Dauphin hospital to stay closed for extended period owing to flood damage

The hospital in Dauphin will remain closed for months as officials assess and rectify the damage caused by severe flooding.

Internal documents sent to staff from the CEO of Prairie Mountain Health, which were obtained by the Free Press, indicate the Dauphin Regional Health Centre has sustained “significant damage” as a result of recent intense flooding in the Parkland region.

“While initial response efforts have allowed us to better understand the impacts to the facility, extensive damage to critical infrastructure particularly within the basement level of the hospital has been identified,” wrote Treena Slate. “As a result, the closure of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre will need to remain in effect for an extended period while assessments, repairs and remediation activities are completed.”

The documents said the disruptions will continue for “several months” as engineering, infrastructure and operational experts conduct further assessments this week to “determine the full scope of the damage.”

A staggered reopening of services is expected, the documents said, with programs coming back online as repairs are completed and spaces are deemed “safe and operational.”

In the note sent to staff, Slate acknowledged the disruption “creates uncertainty for staff, patients and the community.”

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the province had reached out to Ottawa.

“We are asking the federal government for increased medical supports and for repairs at Dauphin Regional Health Centre to be expedited so full services can be restored as quickly and safely as possible,” the minister said in a statement.

Asagwara said the province is looking for “creative solutions” and expects to hold a meeting with physicians early next week to collaborate on immediate and longer term solutions. It also plans to meet with nurses and other staffers.

Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak said he’s not surprised because the flooding caused a huge amount of damage.

“We’re bracing for the worst-case scenarios of months, but we’re hoping that there’s other things that can be put in place before then.”

He said he understands there has to be a lab and imaging capacity to reopen emergency services in Dauphin.

“Whether that’s some kind of mobile lab and imaging or whether it’s bringing equipment in, into a separate facility … those are things that are being worked on right now,” he said.

Bosiak noted however local officials are happy the community’s personal care home and a public health building attached to the hospital weren’t adversely affected.

Paul Croft, who lives an hour outside of Dauphin, called the news “upsetting.”

He drives his brother-in-law to dialysis at the hospital, staying in Russell for treatment in the early days of the closure. He said while they have since made alternative arrangements for his brother-in-law’s treatment, travelling back and forth from Russell to Dauphin, he said the closure of the hospital, especially the emergency room, is a big problem.

“Unfortunately, I think people are going to really, really struggle and some people are going to die because of it,” he said. “We need to get it open.”

He said the provincial government must do something to address the closure, even if that means bringing in a temporary unit.

“We rely on that hospital,” he said.

In a statement from Doctors Manitoba, spokesperson Keir Johnson said the organization has been “in constant contact with physicians in Dauphin and surrounding communities through this terrible flooding emergency.

Its members feel uneasy about the extended closure.

“Physicians are very concerned about what the hospital closure means for patients in Dauphin and surrounding communities as the hospital is a full service regional health centre,” the statement said.

“Our Doctors Manitoba team is holding a town hall Thursday evening to hear physicians’ concerns and their ideas to safely restore services as close to home as possible. This information will be shared with health system leaders to support their contingency planning.”

The documents indicate that employees are expected to continue to report to work as scheduled unless directed otherwise.

“There is ongoing work available across the region to support patient care and operational needs this period,” the documents said. “Where operationally required, employees may be reassigned or temporarily transferred to alternate work locations.”

Slate said further updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

Shared Health posted a statement that said it recognizes the effect of the closure on residents in the Dauphin area.

“Our highest priority is ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality care. At this time, planning is underway to reestablish emergency department and diagnostic services as a priority. We will continue to provide updates to the public on the progress of opening services.”

It said the Ste Rose hospital emergency department is open 24-7 while the Grandview ER is open 12 hours a day (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca