New Brunswick Invests to Eliminate Primary Care Waitlist in Saint Andrews | GNB
Saint Andrews, Latest Brunswick – A $1.7 million investment will eliminate waitlists for primary healthcare access in Saint Andrews and surrounding communities, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt announced Friday. The funding will modernize the Saint Andrews Wellness Centre and expand its staffing, with a goal of connecting all 603 residents currently on the province’s Lien Santé NB waitlist with a primary care provider within six to twelve months.
The Wellness Centre is currently undergoing renovations to increase capacity and accommodate additional services. These improvements are expected to be completed by mid-April, according to the provincial government. The investment will support the hiring of a phlebotomy service provider, a registered nurse, two licensed practical nurses, a registered therapist, a patient care attendant, and two administrative support staff.
The expanded team will too facilitate succession planning for one of the centre’s long-serving physicians, who is planning a phased retirement in the coming years. The Saint Andrews Wellness Centre is owned and managed by the Town of Saint Andrews, and the initiative represents a collaborative effort between municipal, provincial, and Horizon Health Network stakeholders.
“Collaborative care works best when healthcare providers, partners, and communities work together,” said Health Minister John Dornan in a statement. “With the support of the Town of Saint Andrews and local partners and providers, this clinic will serve as a medical hub for residents and enable hundreds more to access the primary care they deserve within their own community.”
The funding is being provided to Horizon Health Network for infrastructure upgrades and staffing increases. Deputy Mayor Kate Akagi expressed the town’s enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We offer our thanks to the government and Horizon Health Network for their commitment to improving healthcare in our community and throughout New Brunswick. We are excited, as this collaboration will bring many benefits to our residents, today and in the future.”
The initiative aligns with the provincial government’s health plan, which prioritizes primary care and commits to establishing and supporting at least 30 collaborative clinics across the province by 2028. This investment represents a portion of the $30 million allocated in the 2026-2027 budget to expand the collaborative care model. Saint Andrews is the 14th collaborative clinic announced by the government since April 2025, and the third this year, following announcements for Eastern Charlotte (Blacks Harbour area) and Nackawic-Millville.
Currently, the Saint Andrews Wellness Centre serves approximately 2,900 patients, offering primary care alongside counseling, physiotherapy, and respiratory therapy services. The renovations will enable the addition of blood collection and laboratory services. Horizon Health Network President and CEO Margaret Melanson highlighted the community’s long-standing commitment to local healthcare, tracing its roots back to 1971 with the establishment of the Saint Andrews Health Centre, supported by Lady Beaverbrook. “This expansion builds on that strong foundation, providing more space to enable healthcare providers to work together and support residents for generations to reach,” she said.