Gillam, Leaf Rapids health hubs temporarily close amid COVID pressure

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This article was published 29/12/2021 (1721 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Ongoing, persistent” problems with keeping northern Manitoba health-care facilities properly staffed have forced two hospital closures in the region.

Gillam Hospital and Leaf Rapids Health Centre are both shut down until January. Residents of both communities are being told to call 911 if they need health care in the meantime, drawing on resources in Thompson and Lynn Lake.

“No one wants to close a health centre, even for a few days. We understand the apprehension some community members feel. Our goal is to implement our plan to meet the health needs of citizens served by the Gillam Hospital during this period of closure. Every effort is being made to open earlier,” the Northern Health authority stated in a notice to the community.

Niki Ashton, member of Parliament for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, called on the federal government to bring in military support as a result of the closures, which she described as “shocking decision” in light of rising COVID-19 case counts.

“I am calling on Indigenous Services Canada to immediately work with the province of Manitoba and take whatever measures necessary, including engaging the Canadian Armed Forces to provide emergency medical services in Gillam and Leaf Rapids at this time,” Ashton wrote in a letter Wednesday to Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu and Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

Leaf Rapids Health Centre (roughly 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg) closed Dec. 27, and is expected to be shuttered for two weeks, until Jan. 10. Gillam Hospital (some 750 km northeast of Winnipeg) closed Dec. 28, and is expected to reopen at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 5.

As health-care services across the province begin to feel the strain of the rapidly spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer was asked to address those closures during a virtual news conference Wednesday.

Dr. Brent Roussin deferred specific questions, saying he didn’t have details. He did, however, speak about the general chronic shortages of hospital staff, saying the issue is compounded by two main causes.

“Increasing demands on the health-care system, for various reasons, but most notably because of Omicron… part of those increased cases include health-care workers. And so that puts extra strain on the staffing,” Roussin said.

“It is why we’ve put in more measures. It’s why we’re asking Manitobans to do what they can to reduce their contacts. It’s why we’re pleading with Manitobans to get vaccinated as soon as they become eligible for another dose.”

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca