Dire shortages leave Melita residents with no ER services for the summer
Residents in a southern Manitoba town are asking questions as to why they are facing a summer with no emergency room.
Nearly 200 residents of Melita packed the Legion Memorial Hall Tuesday to ask questions and learn more about why their emergency services would be shut down for the remainder of the summer.
The main reason for the shut down, according to Prairie Mountain Health CEO Brian Schoonbaert, is that there are dire shortages elsewhere.
“We could have, in Melita over the summer, continued previous services,” Schoonbaert says. “But what happened is that we have significant shortages in our [personal care homes] particularly in Reston and Deloraine.”
For the month of July, there are 35 unfilled shifts in Reston and 20 in Deloraine.
The shortages are the reason behind what Schoonbaert calls “drastic steps,” including utilizing a clause in the Manitoba Nurses Union contract that allows them to move nurses up to 50 km to work where they’re most needed.
In the case of nurses in Melita, they will be moved to cover the shortages in Reston (44 km) and Deloraine (43 km).
“They’ll be paid for their driving time, their mileage, and they’ll even get a stipend above their normal salary for the reassignment,” Schoonbaert says.
The concern Melita Mayor Bill Holden says he’s heard most from residents is that the ER will stay closed, but he’s highly optimistic it will reopen in the fall.
“We are committed to work with Prairie Mountain Health and the surrounding RMs to make sure that we do our best to make sure this facility opens up again in the fall,” Holden says.
Residents were able to voice their concerns and frustrations, as well as ask questions during the meeting. Some of the topics brought up by residents were consideration for scholarships for local students to keep them in the area, the status of ambulance services, and the number of health care workers overall.
Schoonbaert says he appreciates the opportunity to better explain the situation directly to the residents.
“It’s not going to be easy for us, but really they don’t have the staffing issue per se, it was the neighbouring communities,” he says. “So that’s why it’s more readily available that I can say that things are going to be okay for them come September.”
In a statement to CTV News, the Manitoba Nurses Union says that closing Melita’s ER impacts the town and surrounding areas where patients are forced to travel. It also puts additional strain on other units and facilities.
Clinic and lab services in Melita will continue to be available, and public health and home care services will operate as usual.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.