The outgoing chair of Horizon Health Network's patient safety committee used his last public address to warn about the impact a shortage of long-term care beds is having on the ability to deliver safe and timely acute care.

The number of hospital beds occupied by people awaiting long-term care represents "a clear and present danger to our clinical operations in Horizon and is likely to do so in the immediate future," Dr. Stephen Bolton said at Tuesday's board meeting in Saint John. 

A total of 57…