Plan to Add 45 Long-Term Care Beds in Corner Brook, Minister Says

The provincial government says it expects to begin opening new long-term care beds in Corner Brook within the next year, a move aimed at easing pressure on overcrowded hospital services.

During a sitting of the House of Assembly, Humber–Bay of Islands MHA Eddie Joyce raised concerns about ongoing congestion in the emergency department at the Corner Brook Regional Hospital. He said the issue is partly driven by long-term care patients occupying acute-care beds.

Joyce told the House that there are approximately 50 acute-care beds currently being used by patients awaiting long-term care placement. He has previously called for long-term care capacity to be added at the former Western Memorial Regional Hospital site, a project he said was included in Budget 2026 commitments.

Health and Community Services Minister Lela Evans said the province intends to follow through on those plans.

Evans told the House that about 15 long-term care beds are expected to open within the first 12 months of the project. The remaining 30 beds are projected to come online within six months after that, bringing the total to 45 new beds within approximately 18 months.

The additional capacity is expected to help reduce strain on acute-care services by allowing more seniors to transition out of hospital beds into appropriate long-term care settings.