Recently the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) announced plans to better patient care. Presently, Manitobans are waiting too long for care, are staying too long in hospital and often need to visit multiple locations to access the care they need.
The changes announced recently are aimed at improving the quality of health care and strengthening the health system. A central piece of this plan is the consolidation of services at specific locations to capitalize on the strengths of those sites and position them to deliver improved quality and timeliness of care, as well as permit the concentration of valuable resources, such as diagnostics, that are currently spread over multiple locations. Each of Winnipeg’s six hospitals will have a distinct, unique role in delivering specialized services, making it easier to provide the right care, at the right place, at the right time.
It is worth acknowledging that the changes to our health system will not be easy but are necessary. The health system of today is not delivering the quality of care that patients and their families deserve. The measures being advanced are based on evidence from other provinces and from recent reports that support the need for system transformation. I encourage you to visit www.healingourhealthsystem.ca to learn more about the plan to better patient care and ensure the sustainability of Manitoba’s health system.
If you have specific questions about the plan the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority can be reached at clientrelations@wrha.mb.ca or 204-926-7825.
