Ten new family doctors coming to Fredericton over the next two years

Ten new family doctors will work in Fredericton under the Family Medicine New Brunswick model, a program intended to provide patients with enhanced access to family doctors.

“Strengthening the delivery and accessibility of health care is important to the quality of life of New Brunswick families,” said deputy premier Stephen Horsman. “The addition of 10 new family doctors to the health-care system in Fredericton will provide residents with better access to primary care, which in turn will reduce the number of people on the Patient Connect NB waiting list.”

Horsman spoke on behalf of Health Minister Benoît Bourque.

“Today’s medical school graduates want to work in the team-based environment that Family Medicine New Brunswick offers,” said Dr. Dharm Singh, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society. “The commitment and enthusiasm of these 10 doctors to remain in New Brunswick speaks to the continued success of this program.”

Five of the doctors will start this fall and another five will start in the fall of 2019. All are part of the Dalhousie Medicine residency program.

Developed by the New Brunswick Medical Society in collaboration with the provincial government, Family Medicine NB aims to improve patient access, increase collaboration between doctors using technology, and create a better work-life balance for doctors. Participants will work in teams in order to improve service to their patients, including after-hours.

The model is expected to aid recruitment efforts by offering young doctors a modern way to practise while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

“Horizon welcomes and looks forward to working with these new doctors,” said Dr. Édouard Hendriks, vice-president of medical, academic and research affairs at Horizon Health Network. “These doctors will improve access to primary care, which is integral to helping people be healthy.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Bruce Macfarlane, Communications, Department of Health, 506-444-4583.

Marcelle Saulnier, Communications, New Brunswick Medical Society, 506-462-4649