With the Ste. Anne’s Emergency Room closed for the rest of the month, Mayor Yvan St. Vincent is hopeful that a recent health care funding announcement will improve the doctor shortage in the community.
The federal and provincial governments have announced more than $633 million in health care funding.
Almost $434 million is to support Manitoba’s three−year plan to improve health care and about $199 million is to bolster care for seniors.
The governments say this funding will support Manitoba's goal to hire 400 more doctors, 300 more nurses, 200 paramedics and 100 homecare workers.
“I know this doctor shortage crisis is all over Canada, so anything we can do to attract them and retain them is great,” says St. Vincent.
The emergency room at Ste. Anne Hospital was operating on reduced hours and is now closed completely until February 29th.
It will re-open on Friday, March 1st at 8 am.
Meanwhile, back in November, the regional health authority announced that they would suspend obstetrical services at Ste. Anne Hospital for approximately six months. This is also due to a physician shortage.
Last summer, St. Vincent noted that the town’s Community Development Corporation has been trying to work with Southern Health and the various associations to ensure they have enough medical human resources.
While St. Vincent points out that hospital staffing is not the town’s responsibility, they are advocating for adequate staffing.
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