The Saint John Regional Hospital is setting aside 85 to 95 beds strictly for post-op patients in an effort to cut down surgery wait times.
Executive Director of the Regional Hospital Margaret Melanson tells CHSJ News it's the first step to addressing what has been a serious issue for doctors.
A big reason for the slowdown is the high number of acute long care patients taking up beds.
She says for now, about 20 of those reserved beds will be allowed for ALEC patients if the need arises.
Eventually, only surgery patients will make use of the beds.