The challenges with the new main entrance to the Bethesda Regional Health Centre continue to both garner attention and fuel frustration. Even before it was opened, there were concerns raised by residents and hospital staff about how those needing to use the main entrance would do so if they had mobility challenges.
Instead of a ground level entrance, which is standard in not only hospitals but in most other public use buildings, the Bethesda main entrance was redesigned to have a flight of stairs and a narrow steep ramp. Since it opened more than a year ago, many people have struggled to enter the hospital. Others have avoided it all together. It simply is unacceptable to have a hospital entrance that poses such difficulty for those who are sick or dealing with mobility issues.
Almost from the day that it opened, everyone has agreed that it is not acceptable. Successive NDP health ministers have vowed to get it fixed. The current NDP Minister of Health even went so far as to say it was her top priority. And yet, months later, the problems continue. In an attempt to ease the concerns, a button was installed at the bottom of the stairs that people who have difficulty climbing stairs can push between 7:00am and 3:00pm for assistance. This is far from a solution.
As well, there are plans to have “rest areas” installed along the ramp so that exhausted patients and visitors can gather their strength before continuing on their journey up or down the ramp.
While this entire mess points to the clear dysfunction within the NDP government, the simple fact is that there needs to be a solution. The struggle that patients and visitors to the hospital face cannot continue. It is also difficult on many hospital staff that both have to hear and respond to the concerns.
Earlier this week I was advised by Manitoba Health that there will be an open house held on September 3rd, 2015. At the open house three design options to modify the entry and add a ground level lobby and elevator to the upper level are to be presented for public input.
The positive is that there seems to be an understanding that a ground level entrance is needed. However, there is still no timeline associated with this solution and given the past delays on this and other projects, residents are right to be concerned that it is simply another exercise in delay.
The NDP Minister of Health has indicated that getting this fixed is her top priority. The time that has elapsed would indicate that is hasn’t been much of a priority at all. Hopefully that is about to change.
