August 19, 2024
Health-Care Listening Tour Continues in Thompson as Premier, Minister Meet with Hospital Staff
THOMPSON—Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara, will listen and learn from health-care staff today at Thompson General Hospital as part of the ongoing health-care listening tour.
“Northern health care has unique challenges and the staff here at Thompson General put in a herculean effort every day to deliver the same quality of care that patients expect in other health regions,” said Kinew. “After years of cuts and chaos, when staff couldn’t even count on reliable hot water in a hospital, it was high time Thompson patients were treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We’re doing that work to improve northern health care, always guided by the belief that everyone should have equal access to quality care.”
The listening tour will take place later today, with front-line staff in attendance to talk about their experiences as health-care providers. The premier and minister will welcome staff to share suggestions on how to improve health care as well as the culture among health professionals.
“Front-line staff are not alone – we’re standing beside them and want to hear how we can better support them in their demanding roles,” said Asagwara. “At the end of the day, we’re all here to serve Manitobans and offer quality patient care, so it’s important to foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration and work together on plausible solutions.”
Stops to date on the listening tour have included Grace Hospital, St. Boniface Hospital, Selkirk Mental Health Centre, Victoria Hospital, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and Brandon Regional Health Centre. A visit to Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach is anticipated in the coming months, the premier added.
“As a nurse myself, I know how much our health-care staff are putting into caring for people every day,” said Carla Compton, premier’s adviser on nursing culture and safety, who also attended the event. “As the premier’s adviser on nursing culture and safety, I’m grateful for the opportunity to make this important work a little easier for people on the frontlines. I’m looking forward to hearing from Thompson’s hardworking health-care staff. Their perspectives will directly inform the work we’re doing to change the culture of health care and recruit and retain more health-care workers across the province.”
Provincial health-care staff are invited to share their experiences and suggestions on how to improve Manitoba’s health-care system through EngageMB at https://engagemb.ca/listeningtothefrontline.
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