Fredericton, Saint John to see 51 new child-care spaces, each, for health-care workers

Health-care workers in Fredericton and Saint John will soon have access to new daycare spaces, after a $4-million spend by the regional health authority.

Horizon Health Network said on Tuesday it would direct $2 million from its recruitment and retention endowment fund to each city, creating 51 new child-care spaces, apiece.

That will include 12 "flex-time spaces" in both cities, where care is provided from6:30 a.m. to8 p.m.to accommodate shift work.

Shannon Hunter, president and CEO of theSaint John Regional Hospital Foundation, whichoversees administration of thefunding forthat city, said the effort is meant to attract and keephealth-care workers.

"There's a tremendous wait list in New Brunswick, particularly in Fredericton and Saint John,"Hunter said in an interview.

Horizon"did staff surveys to really understand overall what would improve the well being of their work life, and access to daycare kept coming up."

In those surveys, answeredby 612 Horizon staffand physicians in Saint John and Frederictonin 2024, nearly 80 per centsaid they would use child care near their workplace, and 36 per cent said they needed care until 8 p.m.

According to Horizon, Fredericton and Saint John have the highest wait lists for infant daycare in the province, with191 and 246 children waiting, respectively.

WATCH | 'Access to daycare kept coming up':

Horizon Health hopes daycare spaces will help recruit, retain health-care workers

1 month ago

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The health authority is helping to create about 100 new daycare spots for the young children of health-care workers in Fredericton and Saint John.

The 51 new spaces in Saint John will be available atOrigins Natural Learning Childcare for fall 2024, while the 51 in Fredericton will be offered throughGo-Go Group Inc.in winter 2025.

Permanent full-time and part-time health-care workersaccessing those spaceswill still have to pay the same rates as other parentsbut Horizon will subsidize what is normallycontributedby the provincial or federal governments.

OriginsownerErin Schryersaid parents pay $18 perday,per child,and $21 per day for an infantbut the real costwould be more like $50 perday.

That roughly $30 difference, usually paid for by government, will be paid through theHorizon fund.

The health authority did not respond to questionsabout whether the money in that fund is donated or set aside as part of Horizon's annual budget.

Schryer said her spaces will likely be ready by October or November. She has construction planned for the site that waspreviously home to the Cherry Brook Zoo.

In Fredericton, Go-Go Group Inc. will be opening another site,at150 Woodside Lane, to accommodate the new spots.

Go-Go Group president Kara Angus called it an extreme honour to be chosen for the additional seats. She saidthe new building is anticipated to open inJanuary.

"These people literally keep us alive," she said. "So anything that we can do to make their lives and their work-life balance easier, I'm thrilled to help."

Health-care workers can start applying for those spaces directly with each operator starting on Sept. 3.

New Brunswick Nurses Union president Paula Doucetand New Brunswick Medical Society president Dr. Paula Keatingwelcome the program.

Both said child carehas long been a topic of major concern for members returning to the workforce after having a child.

"Whether it's going to be a recruitment tool, I'm not sure, but we've been saying for many, many years nurses in particular have a very difficult time finding adequate childcare when they're returning from maternity leave," Doucetsaid.

"I do know of one particular case where they were put on the list for a potential spot, and the nurse was due to return to work, and she actually had to take an extra month offbecause the spot ... did not actually materialize. So there is a struggle out there,for nurses in particular."

Doucetis concerned that more of the spaces do not allow forflex-time.

"It's maybe okay for the Monday to Friday worker, you know, eight to four, but again, health care is 24/7," she said.

The two daycaresselected by Horizon, according to their licence, offer service in English. Doucet said the pilot project could also improve by adding seats with daycares that offer French service.

Keatingsaid retentioneffortsare equally important to addressingstaff shortages as recruitment.

"Throughout the past year, we have tried, unsuccessfully to date, to make this issue a priority for government investment,"she said in astatement to CBC News.

"It is imperative to support our current workforce and focus on retention if we are to build a primary care system that will not only attract new graduates but also encourage experienced physicians to continue working."