December 9, 2020
Province Announces Roblin District Health Centre's Emergency Department Reopens
– – –Hiring of New Diagnostics Services Staff Allows for Resumption of Emergency Services, Helps to Protect Manitobans: Friesen
The emergency department at Roblin District Health Centre has reopened following the successful recruitment of diagnostic service staff, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced today.
“Roblin saw sudden disruptions to its emergency department due to some staffing issues that arose, and we worked quickly to identify the challenges and solve them,” said Friesen. “This was always a temporary measure, and the reopening of the Roblin District Health Centre’s emergency department reaffirms our commitment to rural medicine in Manitoba.”
Roblin’s emergency department officially reopened Monday, Dec. 7, following to the unplanned departure of diagnostic services staff in the area. Emergency department services at the Roblin District Health Centre for the month of December are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. In January, further extension of the department’s hours of operation will be assessed with the local physician group, the minister noted.
“We had discussions with not only our staff and medical leadership, but municipal and community officials as we collaboratively looked to alleviate critical human resource shortages that are not unique in rural areas,” said Penny Gilson, CEO, Prairie Mountain Health. “We commit to continuing this dialogue as we know there is more work to do in both the short and long term.”
The emergency department’s reopening follows the successful hiring of a number of diagnostic services positions in Roblin and the neighbouring community of Russell. Four diagnostic technologist positions have been filled this fall in Russell, allowing a staff member previously relocated to that community to return to Roblin. This returning staff member has been joined by an additional diagnostic technologist.
Staffing in the area has also been bolstered by two Red River College graduates who will complete their cross-training program in February and have already passed their national exams. The students have been deployed to Roblin and Russell to further support lab sample collection efforts.
“The incremental reopening of Roblin’s emergency department marks a significant milestone in our continuing efforts to recruit diagnostic staff to the community and the broader area,” said Petr Kresta, chief operating officer of diagnostic services for Shared Health. “Our aggressive recruitment campaign remains ongoing as we work to bring more qualified diagnostic technicians to this area of the province, allowing for the further restoration of emergency services for Roblin and its surrounding area.”
The development of Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan will deliver a range of community-based health services closer to home for rural and northern Manitobans. The plan, when implemented, will also build a sustainable health-care system that meets the needs of Manitobans now and into the future, Friesen added.
For more on Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, go online to:
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