Manitoba providing financial assistance when hospital patients relocated
The Manitoba government is set to implement a new program that will provide financial assistance when a hospital patient is relocated to a facility outside their region.
The province announced the new program on Friday, saying it will provide assistance for meals, transportation and accommodations, and link people to community support resources.
The way the program works is that when a person is transferred outside of their community as a part of the inter-regional transfer policy, their regional health authority or service delivery organization will work with them and their designated support person to coordinate the financial assistance.
The program allows for up to eight visits a month by a designated support person and includes:
- Meal vouchers so the designated support person can eat with the patient when an on-site meal service is available. If an on-site meal service is not available, the program will provide a maximum of $8 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $15 for dinner;
- Transportation help of return bus fare or gas expenses; and
- Help with accommodations of up to $70 per night plus taxes.
The program is in effect as of Friday. The province said it will work with about 250 patients that were transferred before Friday.
Dr. David Matear, health system co-lead of the Unified Health Sector Incident Command, said at a news conference that relocating patients is necessary to ensure Manitobans can access care in the most specialized health-care facilities.
“While we recognize the concerns of affected patients and their families about the distance from loved ones, we also appreciate their understanding that these transfers are necessary,” he said.
Matear said the interregional transfer protocol has resulted in 253 stable patients being transferred to facilities outside of their home region in the past three months. He noted this includes 39 transfers in the past week.
“As a reminder patients identified for transfer are assessed by a clinical team and matched to sites that can provide appropriate levels of care and that meet their needs,” Matear said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.