Manitoba Health System Tackles ER Staffing Crisis and Endoscopy Backlog

Nurses at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach sent an open letter, signed by Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson, warning of "excessive and unacceptable" safety risks in the emergency department. They cite the absence of a second 24‑hour triage nurse, long patient waits and the risk of tragedies, stating, "We constantly fear for the safety of our patients and community."

Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced that the province has reduced the endoscopy backlog by 85%, dropping the number of patients waiting from nearly 11,500 in July 2022 to 1,678 in July. Average wait times fell to 69 days from 233 days, with urgent cases seen in eight days. Dr. Dana Moffatt, section head of gastroenterology, credited targeted investments and hard work of health‑care workers for the improvement, noting that earlier detection of gastrointestinal cancers will save lives.