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Regional health authorities search for leasable spaces across N.B.
Published Jan 25, 2026 • Last updated 2 days ago • 3 minute read
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Horizon and Vitalite health networks issued expressions of interest to gauge the availability of leasable space to house clinical and health service operations in the future across the province. PEXELSArticle content
New Brunswick’s regional health authorities have cast their nets to see the availability of leasable space across the province to meet their growing needs.
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Both Horizon and Vitalité health networks have issued their own expressions of interest within the last few weeks, inviting property owners and real estate developers to propose sites that could house clinical and health service operations in the future.
Vitalité is expecting a need for space in the short term in the areas of Restigouche, Bathurst, Moncton, the Acadian Peninsula and the northwest region, while Horizon is anticipating near-term space needs in north Moncton and north Saint John, according to a pair of press releases.
“While some near-term areas have been referenced to illustrate current planning priorities, the EOI is not limited to those locations, and Horizon and Vitalité may consider suitable space opportunities in other communities as needs evolve,” said Blaine Lynch, regional director of facilities, engineering and property management with Horizon, in a statement.
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Horizon recently announced the relocation of some services provided at Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital to a still-to-be-disclosed community location.
It’s part of a plan over the next few months to move some services out in the community and to other parts of the congested hospital to improve patient experience.
Horizon publicly announced the plan following political and public outcry over an open letter regarding an 88-year-old patient’s experience in the DECRH’s medical transition unit, which up until this point has been housed in an ambulance bay with no washroom.
Under Horizon’s plan, the unit will move on to a hospital floor, while the ambulance bay will be renovated to include washrooms and be used as additional clinical care space in the future.
During a recent Horizon board meeting, Margaret Melanson, CEO and president, said the regional health authority is “continuously assessing and identifying services that can be provided in the community to free up space within our hospitals.”
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“Our vision is to safely move appropriate services, including ambulatory clinics, out of hospitals and into the community,” she said.
“This will help relieve pressure within our hospitals and free up space for patients and services that must remain on site in our acute care environments.”
Horizon and Vitalité are also searching for more space as the Holt government continues its push to expand access to collaborative primary care across the province.
In the span of almost a year, the Liberals have made 11 collaborative care clinic announcements. They campaigned on a promise to establish “at least” 30 new collaborative care clinics by 2028, although the majority so far have been expansions.
Some practices have needed renovations of existing space, while others have needed brand-new space.
Under the government’s plan, Horizon has announced the expansion of seven family health teams in almost a year’s time.
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“Family health teams in Nordin (Miramichi), Mapleton (Moncton), Tantramar and Carleton North are already operating in newly renovated spaces,” Ashley Calvert, interim vice-president of community for Horizon, said in a statement.
“Fredericton North recently moved into their new space. We know that St. Stephen and Saint John North End will require new spaces, and in the case of St. Stephen, we’ve already identified where that will be.”
Horizon is “well on our way” to reaching its target of nine family health teams by the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to Calvert.
“We are currently working on our plan for next fiscal year, and in April, we will announce a new target number of teams for 2026-27.”
Horizon has also been in the process of transitioning its 46 community health centres to the family health team model.
Since April 2025, Vitalité has seen four family health team announcements under the government’s plan. Those announcements have been for the communities of Campbellton, Laméque, Edmundston and Bathurst.
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According to its latest quarterly report, Vitalité now has 30 family health teams across its four zones. By the end of 2025, Vitalité reported that 91 per cent of its patients are now connected to a primary care provider.
Both Horizon and Vitalité have committed to having all their patients attached to a primary care provider by 2029.
“Some of the spaces identified through (the EOI) could be considered to support the activities of our local family health teams, among other health service needs,” deputy Vitalité CEO Patrick Parent said in a statement.
Deadlines for both expressions of interest have passed, although both health authorities say that while any late submissions may not be considered for immediate opportunities, they will be retained and may be considered for future needs.
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