Concordia Hospital (WIKIPEDIA)
WINNIPEG — The province has backtracked on its original plans for the pending Concordia Hospital emergency room closure, which will now be transitioned into an urgent care centre.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen says the conversion will take place within the next six weeks, while the transition for Seven Oaks Hospital to an urgent care centre remains on track for September.
“There is broad agreement among clinical leaders throughout the health-care system that the plan to improve patient outcomes is working, but it has become increasingly clear the timeline is problematic,” said Friesen.
Friesen says increased patient volume at Concordia reflects the decision to establish an urgent care model at the hospital.
The Manitoba government will implement recommendations based on an external review by Dr. David Peachey, who penned a report for the first phase of the Healing our Health System plan two years ago. Any further changes within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority won’t be implemented for at least six months, says the province.
Peachey recently met with leadership from Shared Health, the WRHA, senior administration from all hospitals, clinical leadership and the Manitoba Nurses Union. His recommendations were submitted to the government over the weekend.
In a statement, the Manitoba Nurses Union said, “Nurses across the province continue to be incredibly frustrated by the Pallister government’s reckless approach to health care. Today’s announcement is a half-measure, and adds to the confusion that’s been created. It doesn’t adequately address the needs of Manitoba’s patients, or the problems that nurses and other health care providers have repeatedly identified.”
