March 11, 2026
Manitoba Government Expands Surgical Capacity with New Grace Hospital Surgery Clinic
– – –New Clinic Brings Surgeons Together to Improve Access and Reduce Wait Times: Minister
The Manitoba government has opened the Grace Hospital Surgery Clinic, bringing together seven surgeons in one location to improve access to surgical care and help reduce wait times for Manitobans, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.
“This clinic creates a faster path for patients who need surgical care,” said Asagwara. “Instead of patients waiting longer or ending up in emergency departments while they wait for procedures, they can be assessed, diagnosed and moved toward treatment sooner. It’s a practical step that helps reduce surgical backlogs while freeing up emergency departments for the patients who need them most.”
Located at Access Winnipeg West on the Grace Hospital campus, the clinic consolidates services, co-ordinating surgical consultations and procedures in one clinic. The Lowering Wait Time and System Improvement team identified the initiative, which is designed to improve patient flow and help move surgical patients out of the emergency department sooner, the minister noted.
The clinic allows surgeons to assess patients earlier and redirect appropriate cases away from the emergency department, the minister noted. Each day, the clinic can manage patients who would otherwise present to the emergency department for post-operative concerns or new surgical consultations, while stable patients requiring surgical assessment can be evaluated directly in the clinic instead of occupying emergency beds.
Patients who require hospital care can also be admitted directly to surgical units from the clinic, bypassing emergency department bottlenecks and helping ensure emergency department resources remain available for the most urgent cases, the minister noted. The clinic brings together a diverse team of general surgeons with expertise in areas such as breast surgery, surgical oncology, colorectal surgery and minimally invasive surgery.
A dedicated procedure room allows minor surgical procedures to be performed safely within the clinic, helping reduce demand on operating room resources so hospital operating rooms can be utilized for more complex surgical cases.
“Bringing a team of general surgeons together in one clinic allows us to assess patients sooner and co-ordinate care more efficiently,” said Dr. Ali Khan, site lead, Grace Hospital Surgery Clinic. “With surgeons located close to the emergency department, patients can be seen earlier, decisions can be made quickly and appropriate cases can move directly to treatment instead of waiting in the emergency department. It’s a more collaborative approach that helps us provide safer and more timely surgical care.”
The clinic operates in newly renovated clinical space with eight exam rooms and dedicated clinical support areas. The Manitoba government invested approximately $700,000 in renovations and equipment to prepare the space for surgical services.
The Grace Hospital Surgery Clinic is supported by Shared Health, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the provincial surgery program as part of ongoing efforts to improve patient access to surgical care and reduce pressure on emergency departments.
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