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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Tories, NDP debate scheduled visits to Winnipeg ERs
THE Selinger government is dropping the ball when it comes to reducing congestion in Winnipeg's hospital emergency rooms, the Progressive Conservatives say.
The Tories on Wednesday produced figures acquired through freedom-of-information legislation that show scheduled visits to city ERs rose by more than 10 per cent between 2010 and 2011.
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority figures show such visits rose to 14,234 in 2010-2011 from 12,840 the previous year.
Scheduled visits include such procedures as bandage changes, IV therapy and other follow-up treatments. A task force recommended several years ago they be eliminated, the PCs said.
Tory health critic Myrna Driedger said Wednesday scheduled ER visits would be better handled in a doctor's office or community Access Centre.
"They are not emergencies and those patients shouldn't be going to the ERs," she told reporters after raising the issue in the legislature. "That's why we still have hallway medicine."
Health Minister Theresa Oswald said the province has made progress on scheduled visits to ERs over the long term.
In 2005-2006, there were some 14,400 scheduled visits to city ERs, she said, excluding those made to Children's Hospital. In 2010-2011, there were 11,689 scheduled visits to Winnipeg ERs, excluding the 2,545 to Children's Hospital.
"So we are actually seeing a decrease in those scheduled visits," Oswald said.
She said more progress should be achieved in reducing such visits once the province opens more Quick Care clinics staffed by nurse practitioners and registered nurses.
A cabinet spokeswoman said scheduled visits to hospital ERs represent five per cent of overall traffic at city ERs.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 24, 2012 A6
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