Filling empty long-term care beds could nearly eliminate the waitlist in Eastern Health

The number of vacant beds in long-term care in Eastern Health almost exactly matches the number of people on the waitlist.

A spokesperson for Eastern Health said as of Feb. 16, there were 158 people waiting for a long-term care bed.

As of Feb. 9, there were about 140 vacant long-term care beds in Eastern Health, according to the Department of Health and Community Services.

The beds have been left vacant because there’s not enough staff.

On the province’s west coast, Western Health told SaltWire on Tuesday, Feb. 21 there were 74 people waiting for long term care placement in the Western region. As of Feb. 9, there were 39 vacant long-term care beds in Western Health.