A new shared‑response system will soon change how some 911 medical calls are handled in New Brunswick.
The province says the approach will help keep ambulances available for urgent and life‑threatening situations while guiding other callers to more suitable care.
The system launches this month and links Ambulance New Brunswick with Tele‑Care 811, according to a government release.
Health Minister John Dornan said the initiative is part of efforts to build a more connected and efficient health‑care system that improves access to care.
“Patients with non‑urgent health concerns can be connected to the services best suited to their needs while helping preserve ambulance resources for emergency situations,” Dornan said in a government release.
Under the model, 911 calls assessed by Ambulance New Brunswick’s dispatch centre as low acuity may be routed to Tele‑Care 811.
Registered nurses can assess symptoms, give advice over the phone and connect callers to the care they need.
Ambulance New Brunswick received about 147,700 calls in the 2025‑26 fiscal year.
In a typical year, roughly 40,000 of those calls are considered low acuity.
Government analysis shows about 35 per cent of those calls, or roughly 14,000 a year, could be directed to Tele‑Care 811.
Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin said New Brunswickers should continue to call 911 whenever they believe they are facing an emergency.
He said the shared‑response model is meant to ensure emergency resources respond when they are needed while giving people with non‑urgent concerns access to qualified health professionals.
Tele‑Care nurses already manage many of the conditions expected to be routed through the new system.
These include minor aches and pains, minor allergic reactions, abdominal pain, general weakness, minor diabetic concerns, non‑traumatic back pain and other low‑acuity issues, according to the release.
If a Tele‑Care nurse determines at any point that a caller requires an emergency response, the person will be transferred back to Ambulance New Brunswick dispatch to arrange ambulance service.
Jean‑Pierre Savoie, vice‑president of Ambulance New Brunswick, said the collaboration will help ensure patients receive the right care at the right time with the right provider.
“This integrated approach will help to ensure that 911 services are safeguarded for health emergencies and available when New Brunswickers need them most,” Savoie said.
