The Conservative MLA for Borderland is calling on the province's Health Minister to prioritize staffing and resources at the Emerson Health Centre and Personal Care Home amid what he says are growing concerns over vacant suites, staffing shortages, and the facility’s future.
Josh Guenter says he's been approached by numerous families who, he says, are desperately trying to secure personal care for their loved ones at the PCH, only to be told there are no vacancies.
"We've been advocating for them for quite some time and there's just been no movement on this issue. We haven't heard from the Minister. We haven't been able to get these families the help that they need," he explained.
Guenter has now written, and made public, a letter urging Minister Uzoma Asagwara to take immediate action to maintain and enhance operations at the facility.
According to Guenter, there are eight suites currently sitting vacant at the PCH, however, he says families are being told their loves ones can't move in because of staffing challenges. Instead, he says they are being staged in hospitals in Altona and Morris.
"As a result, they're forced to drive [...]to see their loved ones. That's very unfortunate and shouldn't be happening."
As Guenter understands it, there are currently job postings for six care aides and five registered nurses in Emerson.
"The NDP Health minister claims that they've hired 873 new healthcare works but, where are they? We haven't seen them at all," he said.
"There's interest even in the community from individuals who would like to work in that facility and there's just been no uptake," added Guenter. "Unfortunately, (they) aren't being hired and so, that is hugely concerning, and it calls into question the government's intention with regards to the future of that facility."
Guenter emphasized, Emerson needs this facility, and stressed closure is not an option.
"There are people in the community that have worked hard and lived their lives in the community. They've contributed to the care home, some of them have even donated to it over the years, and now they are at the point where they'd like to move in there and they're being told they can't move in because of these staffing challenges.
In Emerson, there is a strong desire to have the care home operational. There's no reason it can't be operational, and I think we'd just like to see some intention there on the part of the Government and that's been lacking."
Responding to Guenter's letter, Minister Asagwara submitted the following statement to PembinaValleyOnline:
"Our government’s top priority continues to be improving access to quality care for Manitobans across the province. The MLA had years to ask his fellow PCs to stop cutting beds in long term care, to build up staffing in rural Manitoba, and to follow through on building personal care homes in the province. The PCs made cuts across the health care system and pushed nurses out of the public system forcing rural areas to rely on private for-profit nursing agencies. We’ve said enough is enough. We’ve hired over 290 health care aides and 300 net-new nurses in the public system and have created more flexibility for nurses through the newly expanded provincial travel nurse team. While it will take time to reverse the previous government’s damage, we are putting in the work to build capacity in personal care homes across the province. We’ve re-opened 104 previously closed staffed PCH beds across the province and are building new PHC beds, starting with Lac du Bonnet. Progress continues, and we are putting in the work."