News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

November 5, 2021

Province Provides Progress Update on Implementation of Recommendations from Stevenson Review

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Progress Continues to Implement Recommendations from External Review of Care Home Outbreak: Gordon

The Manitoba government has released a progress update on the implementation of the recommendations provided in the external report by Dr. Lynn Stevenson of a care home COVID-19 outbreak, now referred to as the Stevenson Review, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon announced today.

“The Stevenson Review set out a number of recommendations and work to implement them on a wider scale across the province is ongoing,” said Gordon. “These changes will help strengthen the care provided in all Manitoba personal care homes and will make a real difference for families, staff and residents in the long term.”

In the last three months, foundational work has been completed on service purchase agreements related to medical bylaws. All work to simplify and clarify communication and decision-making roles between the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, other service delivery organizations and Health Incident Command has also been completed. 

As a result, nine recommendations are fully addressed. Work continues on the remaining eight recommendations and a final report will be released in early 2022. The minister noted all the short-term recommendations have been completed and work remains ongoing to implement the longer-term recommendations. All recommendations and tasks specifically assigned to the Maples Long Term Care Home were completed earlier this year.

The Stevenson Review made 17 recommendations for how to respond to the concerns identified and move forward. An implementation plan was created and 13 working groups were established with representatives from the regional health authorities, Shared Health, private and not-for-profit long-term care facilities, personal care home operators and personal care home associations.

Each working group was given short-, medium- or long-term timelines for planning and implementation of the recommendations established in the external review report.

An outbreak was declared at the Maples Long Term Care Home in Winnipeg on Oct. 20, 2020, and declared over on Jan. 12, 2021. In Nov. 2020, the Manitoba government engaged Stevenson, an expert advisor, to review this outbreak and provide feedback and recommendations.

To view the progress update and read the Stevenson Review and provincial response, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/health/maples_review.html.

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