Manitoba’s Southern Health Region Staffing Shortages hit 23.9%, Government Documents Show

March 10, 2022

Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Red River Métis, Winnipeg, MB - A freedom of information request (FIPPA) obtained by Manitoba Liberals shows major shortages in staffing levels across the Southern Health region in Manitoba - 584 of 2,448 positions in regular operations going vacant - that is an astonishing 23.9%.

The FIPPA request asked for a month-by-month, site-by-site breakdown of vacancies exist for home care aides, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. While the shortages are widespread, a few locations seem to be particularly hard hit.

For homecare programs in Carman, Portage, Ste Anne and Steinbach have vacancies from 23% to 42%. Altona Health Centre Long Term care is short 30.2% - down 13 of 43 positions. Boyne Lodge in Carman is short 40.2% - down 33 of 82.

The Portage general hospital has a 45% vacancy for Licensed Practical Nurses, and is down 13 Registered Nurses. Ste Anne Hospital is short 31% of their Registered Nurses.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said he can't understand how people working in the health system and their patients can be expected to get the quality care they deserve with staffing levels at 75% of what they are supposed to be.

"During the pandemic, our health care system was overwhelmed and broke down, and it should not be a surprise when parts of it are only staffed at 75%. The PCs knew this, and should have for a year - but even in this crisis, their main focus has still been cutting health care - in Winnipeg and across the province," said Lamont. "Keeping people healthy and alive is an investment, not a cost, and the PCs need to make investments."

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