FREDERICTON (GNB) – A new data-driven initiative by Ambulance New Brunswick and Tele-Care 811 will help ensure paramedics and ambulances are available for urgent and life-threatening situations while helping connect others to the most appropriate care for their needs. The shared-response system will launch this month.
“This is another example of how we are building a more connected and efficient health-care system that improves access to care for New Brunswickers,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “By better integrating Ambulance New Brunswick and Tele-Care 811, 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.”
“This is another example of how we are building a more connected and efficient health-care system that improves access to care for New Brunswickers,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “By better integrating Ambulance New Brunswick and Tele-Care 811, 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.”
Under the data-driven initiative, 911 calls for medical help received by Ambulance New Brunswick’s dispatch centre that are assessed as low acuity may be routed to Tele-Care 811, where registered nurses will further assess a person's needs, provide advice over the phone, and, when appropriate, connect the patient to the most suitable health-care services.
Ambulance New Brunswick's dispatch centre received about 147,700 calls in the 2025-26 fiscal year. In a typical year, about 40,000 calls received by the dispatch centre are assessed as low acuity. Analysis has shown that about 35 per cent of those calls – roughly 14,000 annually – could be directed to Tele-Care 811.
“New Brunswickers should continue to call 911 whenever they believe they are facing an emergency of any kind,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin. “This shared-response model helps ensure emergency resources respond when they are needed while providing people with non-urgent health concerns access to qualified health professionals who can help them safely.”
Tele-Care 811 nurses already have experience assessing and managing many of the health concerns that may be directed to the service through the shared-response model; these include minor aches and pains, minor allergic reactions, abdominal pain, general weakness, minor diabetic concerns, non-traumatic back pain and other low-acuity ailments.
If, at any point during the assessment, a Tele-Care 811 nurse determines a patient's condition requires an emergency response, the patient will be reconnected directly with Ambulance New Brunswick dispatch to arrange ambulance service.
“We’re excited for this collaboration with our partners at Tele-Care 811,” said Jean-Pierre Savoie, vice-president of Ambulance New Brunswick. “This integrated approach will help to ensure that patients receive the right care, at the right time, with the right provider, while also helping to ensure that 911 services are safeguarded for health emergencies and available when New Brunswickers need them most."
Ambulance New Brunswick's dispatch centre received about 147,700 calls in the 2025-26 fiscal year. In a typical year, about 40,000 calls received by the dispatch centre are assessed as low acuity. Analysis has shown that about 35 per cent of those calls – roughly 14,000 annually – could be directed to Tele-Care 811.
“New Brunswickers should continue to call 911 whenever they believe they are facing an emergency of any kind,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin. “This shared-response model helps ensure emergency resources respond when they are needed while providing people with non-urgent health concerns access to qualified health professionals who can help them safely.”
Tele-Care 811 nurses already have experience assessing and managing many of the health concerns that may be directed to the service through the shared-response model; these include minor aches and pains, minor allergic reactions, abdominal pain, general weakness, minor diabetic concerns, non-traumatic back pain and other low-acuity ailments.
If, at any point during the assessment, a Tele-Care 811 nurse determines a patient's condition requires an emergency response, the patient will be reconnected directly with Ambulance New Brunswick dispatch to arrange ambulance service.
“We’re excited for this collaboration with our partners at Tele-Care 811,” said Jean-Pierre Savoie, vice-president of Ambulance New Brunswick. “This integrated approach will help to ensure that patients receive the right care, at the right time, with the right provider, while also helping to ensure that 911 services are safeguarded for health emergencies and available when New Brunswickers need them most."
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