Cathy Rogers says paramedics may help with hospital congestion

Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers says paramedics will play a role in the provincial government's plan to keep seniors living in their homes longer.  

"We know that we can find a solution to this hospital congestion. And we definitely want to use all of the skills that are out there.

"So yes, there is a role for the ambulance [services]," said Rogers.

The Paramedic Association of New Brunswick has suggested paramedics in rural areas could conduct home visits with seniors three to four times a week to try to catch health problems early.

Many people could avoid ending up in hospital if small changes in their health were noticed sooner, said Chris Hood, the executive director of the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick.

Discussions are ongoing between paramedics and the Department of Health on the idea, according to Rogers.

The paramedics' proposal comes as the provincial government sets up a pilot project to provide seniors who've been in hospital with rehabilitation at a special-care home and follow-up care at their own home.

The Department of Social Development will fund five beds in three special-care homes in the Fredericton area over a six-month period.

The department will collect data from seniors during the project, and may make some tweaks along the way, said Rogers.

But the program could be implemented provincially before or after the six-month mark.

"Listen, if we're ready to go ahead and start implementing on a wider basis before the pilot project is finished, then we can do so, said Rogers.

"If we need a little bit longer because we have identified some issues, then we want to do it right."