Manitoba's Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara recently visited Portage la Prairie, touring the new hospital alongside Premier Wab Kinew. Asagwara said the visit provided a valuable opportunity to engage with the community and healthcare leaders.
"We met with healthcare leadership, doctors, and engineers," Asagwara says. "It was a really, really great experience. We got to not only learn about how the site is coming together and the overall vision, but we also got to ask a lot of questions about how we're going to staff the hospital and what the top priorities and needs are for the doctors and frontline staff."
The minister emphasized the provincial government's commitment to strengthening healthcare for all Manitobans, ensuring people can access quality services in their own communities.
"Whether it's standing up new hospitals like Portage Hospital or ensuring we are recruiting and retaining healthcare staff, it's a top priority for us to make sure rural Manitobans -- no matter where folks live in our province -- have access to care in their communities," Asagwara said.
Asagwara addresses ongoing conversations about the potential for an MRI unit at the new facility, but highlighted other healthcare priorities.
"We had great conversations not only about the possibility of an MRI, but about diagnostics in general," Asagwara noted. "The doctors and frontline staff there want what's best for their patients. They identified other priorities that are much more in need of attention, and we're going to work together to address them."
Staffing, particularly the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers, was cited as a key challenge. Asagwara praises local efforts but acknowledges the need for further support.
"The local doctors have done a great job building a strong physician team," Asagwara said. "We've been working hard with the region to retain professionals, and we've taken steps like restoring the recruitment and retention fund for doctors. We're also working closely with the Regional Health Authority and municipalities to successfully recruit healthcare workers."
Asagwara also commended the Portage District General Hospital Foundation for its efforts to raise $5 million for an MRI unit and acknowledged the community's advocacy.
"We're going to keep listening to the community," Asagwara says. "We're confident that we can invest in the areas their doctors and healthcare experts have identified as immediate priorities, such as staffing and strengthening diagnostic services, including mammography. If the time is right for an MRI, we'll be well-positioned to work together on that."
Asagwara reiterates the provincial government's commitment to addressing staffing needs and ensuring that rural communities receive the healthcare support they require.
"The previous government did not do the work to recruit staff for this new hospital, and we are working very hard to ensure it's fully staffed," Asagwara adds. "We want healthcare to be better for the community, and that means doing the hard work now to make sure it's successful."