Tories Demand Targeted Health Strategy to Prevent Surgeon Shortages

Progressive Conservative health critic Kathleen Cook has called for a tailored health-care strategy for the Westman region to address the recent surgeon shortage at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. The hospital faced a critical situation when it was without a surgeon for a 24-hour period, forcing patients to choose between waiting, traveling to Dauphin, or going to Winnipeg for urgent care.

Cook emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent similar occurrences in the future. “We can’t have things like this happening at a regional hospital,” she stated, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the Brandon health facility. This incident is not isolated; it reflects a broader trend of difficulties within the health-care system in the area.

According to Cook, a comprehensive strategy should incorporate suggestions made by front-line medical professionals. These suggestions include implementing a Brandon residency rotation and offering targeted incentives to attract doctors to the region. “This is not the first time we’ve seen challenges at BRHC,” Cook remarked. “That’s why we need a specific strategy for Westman, with solutions that have been brought forward by front-line doctors.”

The urgency of the situation was underscored by Wayne Balcaen, MLA for Brandon West, during a recent question period. He expressed concern over the potential dangers posed to patients requiring immediate surgical intervention. “If somebody had a burst appendix or a bleed… there’s no immediate intervention for them,” Balcaen warned. He raised alarms about the reliance on air ambulance services to transport critically ill patients during such shortages, questioning whether this would become a recurring issue.

In response to these concerns, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara acknowledged the staffing challenges but attributed them to the previous government’s “abysmal” health-care record. He stated that while the government prioritizes local coverage for Brandon, contingency plans are in place to ensure patients continue to receive care. “We know there are staffing shortages, and that’s why we’re actively recruiting and hiring to strengthen services in Brandon and across Manitoba,” Asagwara explained.

The Minister highlighted recent initiatives, including the addition of 10 new medical training seats in Brandon as part of a broader recruitment strategy. He also mentioned efforts to update regulations that would facilitate the practice of internationally trained doctors in Manitoba. “These are concrete steps to build up the workforce and ensure patients in Brandon and the entire region get the care they need close to home,” he said.

Dr. Adrian Fung, vice-president of medical services at Prairie Mountain Health, affirmed that the health authority is actively working to secure adequate coverage for surgical programming. He mentioned that planning for coverage continues right up until the day of need, reflecting the urgency of the situation.

The recent shortage at Brandon Regional Health Centre is part of a troubling pattern. In mid-August 2023, Prairie Mountain Health faced another doctor shortage, prompting an urgent email to its physicians regarding multiple vacancies over the weekend. Although shifts were ultimately filled, the situation remains precarious.

Cook criticized the government for not fulfilling its campaign promises to improve health care. “If you look at a lot of metrics for how we measure outcomes in health care — things like wait times and vacancies — things are actively getting worse,” she asserted. “In the case of the lack of general surgery on call in Brandon, that is something they should have seen coming. They should have been able to prevent it before it happened.”

The ongoing debate over health care in Manitoba highlights the urgent need for targeted strategies to address the specific challenges faced by regions like Westman. With the potential for further surgeon shortages, the focus remains on ensuring that patients receive timely and effective medical care.