Saint John North End Wellness Centre to expand primary care services, improving access to area patients

(SAINT JOHN) – Horizon’s North End Wellness Centre in Saint John has received $2.9 million in government funding to expand its collaborative health care services and increase access to primary care for north end residents under a family health team model.

The funding will support the centre’s continued growth including the identification of and move to a new clinic space and recruitment of additional health care providers and allied health professionals to onboard more residents to the patient roster.

“This expansion is another important step in transforming how primary care is delivered in New Brunswick,” said Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s President and CEO. “By bringing providers together in a collaborative, family health team model, we can make sure patients receive the right care from the right professional, when they need it. It’s an approach that supports both better health outcomes and a stronger health care system.”

The health care team currently consists of a part-time physician, a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse and a licensed practical nurse. The team receives administrative support and can offer patients access to other allied health professionals in the region including a dietitian, social worker, pharmacist, occupational therapist and respiratory therapist.

Since opening in 2016, the centre has welcomed 450 patients to its roster and provides additional outreach health services through local organizations and to non-rostered patients in the community by way of pop-up women’s clinics, weekly specimen collection services, and more.

“Making sure people in New Brunswick can get the care they need, when and where they need it, is our top priority,” said Premier Susan Holt. “This new collaborative care clinic in the north end of Saint John will put patients first, giving families access to more health professionals, close to home, while providing a space that the team can grow into.”

The centre began operations thanks to community support and donations – including the current clinic space which was donated in-kind by community partners. Since that time, both operational and community health care needs have outgrown the existing space.

“We committed to 10 collaborative care clinics in 2025, and today’s announcement exceeds that target,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “We know collaborative care is the gold star approach for primary care, but it is not a one-size fits all approach. Each community has its own unique needs, and this growing team will be built around the needs of the people living in the north end of Saint John. I look forward to the team’s future growth.”

The team is currently in early phases of engagement with community members and partners to further identify the region’s specific health care needs.

About Family Health Teams

Horizon’s transformative primary care strategy will establish Family Health Teams across the province, aiming to match all New Brunswickers who live in areas served by Horizon with a local team of collaborative health care providers by 2029. This best-practice approach brings together physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, and medical office assistants to provide better access and improved patient experience.

There are currently six Family Health Teams in various stages of implementation, including Fredericton North, Tantramar, Carleton North, Nordin (Miramichi), Mapleton (Moncton) and St. Stephen, with an additional four in development. Horizon’s 46 existing Community Health Centres are undergoing improvements to optimize capacity within the collaborative care model.

New Brunswickers without a primary care provider should register with the provincial patient waitlist through NB Health Link. As new local Family Health Teams are established, registered individuals will be contacted and matched with a team in their community. Horizon will share regular progress updates at horizonnb.ca/primary-care.

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For more information contact: 

Media Relations 
1-877-499-1899 
Media@HorizonNB.ca 
horizonnb.ca/news