The Manitoba NDP said in a news release Monday (Aug 28) they’ll “build three new emergency rooms in Winnipeg to replace the ERs Brian Pallister and Heather Stefanson closed – and leader Wab Kinew also committed to building a new ER in Eriksdale to improve health care for families in rural Manitoba.”
The three E-R’s in Winnipeg at Victoria, Seven Oaks and Concordia hospitals were downgraded by the Tories to urgent care centres in 2017.
The Progressive Conservatives have called the announcement ‘desperate, empty promises’ saying it contradicts earlier statements by leader Wab Kinew who said he would not re-open all three emergency departments.
The release said “The Manitoba NDP’s plan was supported by Dr. Eric Jacobsohn, internist, anesthesiologist and head of research and the Health Science Centre and Dr. Brian Postl, former CEO of the WRHA and former Dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine.”
“In the last 7 years, I have witnessed an inexorable deterioration in access to medical care for Manitobans,” said Dr. Jacobsohn. “This has resulted in unconscionable delays in receiving care, and poor health outcomes. It is a well-known fact that a lack of access to medical care manifests by increasing use of emergency departments. Wab Kinew and his team have sought input and council about the status of emergency care in Winnipeg, and have correctly decided that the urgent care centres at Victoria, Seven Oaks and Concordia need to be upgraded to full emergency departments”
“Emergency care in Manitoba has suffered since the provincial government under Brian Pallister and Heather Stefanson made the decision to close emergency rooms at Concordia, Seven Oaks and the Victoria hospitals,” said Dr. Postl. “We need a plan to bring better emergency care to our communities. Wab Kinew has laid out his plans to recruit and retain more staff, and with that foundation reopening the three ERs in Winnipeg is something we can and must do. This is a responsible plan that will result in better health care closer to home.”
Manitobans are scheduled to head to the polls October 3rd.
