Tele-Care 8-1-1

  • Get 24-hour support from a nurse
  • Determine if you need to seek care or if you can manage at home
  • Get referred for an in-person or virtual appointment


Overview

Tele-Care is a free bilingual and confidential provincial health line available to all New Brunswickers. By dialing 8-1-1 at any time of the day or night, you can access staff who will help you assess your situation and access services in your community.


When to call 8-1-1

  • You cannot reach your doctor or nurse practitioner and need care
  • You do not have a doctor or nurse practitioner and need care
  • You are not sure if you should go to the emergency department
  • You are looking for health services in your community
  • You need advice on managing a situation at home (medications, injuries)

Use the symptom checker tool to find out:

  • How serious your symptoms are
  • If a healthcare visit is needed
  • What options you have to access care
  • What steps you can take to relieve your symptoms at home

What to expect

Every Tele-Care caller will speak to a registered nurse. In some circumstances, it is necessary for a contact centre agent to answer the call and arrange a callback from a nurse.

You will be asked to describe your symptoms and answer questions to best assess the seriousness of the problem.

Tele-Care nurses use standardized clinical guideline software to triage calls. Through a telephone interview that lasts an average of 10 minutes, the nurse collects pertinent information and assesses your needs. Based on the assessment, the nurse will provide information, education, and advice about self-care, or help you decide whether to make an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner, go to a clinic, contact a community service or go to a hospital emergency room.


Privacy

Patients will need to provide a certain amount of health information to assess health needs when speaking with Tele-Care. All information is considered confidential.