Our strategic priority: Access to primary health care
The Network continues to establish local family health teams to improve access to primary health care across all four of its zones.
At the end of the quarter, 35 local family health teams were active, 18 of which were already providing rapid access within 48 hours.
A total of 242,345 patients are currently under the care of a provider of primary health care, representing an attachment rate of 86.9%. Of this number, 181,108 patients are cared for by a local family health team, while 61,237 receive care by an individual practitioner.
An increasingly accurate picture of patient attachment
The Network now uses the Department of Health’s new method as a benchmark, which relies on Medicare data to directly measure how many patients are attached to a primary health care provider.
Until now, the Network has primarily obtained its data from providers' electronic medical records. The Network's teams are therefore working with the Department to validate and reconcile the lists in order to reduce discrepancies between the various data sources.
As this work progresses, we expect to gain an increasingly accurate and consistent picture of patient attachment.
More resources and new spaces in Grand Falls
Two nurse practitioners recently joined the team in Grand Falls and began seeing patients in August 2026.
The team's growth will also be supported by new infrastructure. Construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2027 and will include the creation of examination rooms, spaces dedicated to social work and other health-related disciplines, a gym for physiotherapy and occupational therapy services, and a space for blood collection.
A new team takes shape in Caraquet
The expansion of primary health care is also continuing in Caraquet with the establishment of a new local family health team, which will help improve access to services for the region’s residents. The arrival of a social worker and a nurse will strengthen the team and make it possible to provide care to more people who do not have a family physician.
More services offered in Memramcook
In Memramcook, the Clinique des Trois Moulins has expanded its facilities to accommodate the team’s growth. A person in charge of phlebotomy services and a licensed practical nurse were also hired.
A new phlebotomy (blood collection) service is now available on-site. The clinic plans to continue expanding its team, and steps are underway to recruit another doctor.
Haut-Madawaska welcomes a new physician
The Haut-Madawaska Medical Clinic in Clair has also welcomed a new physician, who is now practising full-time and helping to improve access to primary health care in the region.
