Lab closures cause for concern
Transcona Dynacare lab to close
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This article was published 21/05/2021 (1659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The closure of community labs has residents feeling they are being left behind.
Dynacare owns all the facilities outside of hospital labs in Winnipeg that provide blood collection and urinalysis services. In the fall of 2020, the company opened two new supersite locations in northeast Winnipeg, one at #3-1581 Regent Ave. W and the other at 1455 Henderson Hwy.
“The intent was to improve customer experience, and employee experience,” Dr. Jenisa Naidoo, medical director for Dynacare Manitoba, told The Herald in October 2020. “To make it more accessible and to see patients in a timely manner.”
When the supersites were opened, Naidoo said the sites would reduce wait times for patients at nearby Dynacare collection centres, notably those located at 701 Regent Ave. W, 1210 Rothesay St., and a temporary “pop-up” location at 1400 Henderson Hwy.
“Now, patients will have options,” she said.
Earlier this month, Transcona resident Claudette Wills was surprised to see that the Dynacare lab at 701 Regent Ave. W was closed when she went to deliver a sample for a senior she helps with errands.
“There were no signage on it about it being closed, so I just drove to the super lab,” Wills, who lives on McMeans Avenue East, said.
When Wills attended the supersite to have her work done, she said she spoke with other clients, mainly seniors, waiting in line and in the waiting room, at which point she learned that Dynacare’s lab at 1210 Rothesay St. had also closed.
“More and more people are coming and saying the same thing,” she said. “Why are these labs closed? We were told it was to be left open.”
Mark Bernhardt, manager of corporate communications with Dynacare, confirmed that the Rothesay site had closed at the end of December 2020.
“The decision was made to relocate due to long-term deficiencies that needed to be addressed at the site,” he explained. “Given challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the small size of this location, it was not feasible to keep this location open.”
Bernhardt also confirmed that while the Transcona location had initially closed “temporarily” due to staffing shortages, the company intends to close the lab for good later this June.
“The current space made it difficult to ensure safe social distancing and created longer wait times for customers,” Bernhardt said. “We will direct customers that frequent this location to the 1581 Regent Ave. West supersite location, as it is better suited to safely accommodate them.”
Earlier this year, Dynacare’s lab at the Concordia Clinic also closed, redirecting clients to the 1581 Regent Ave. W location. That change sparked concerns from locals who have seen a slow but steady erosion of health care services in the northeast over the past five years or more.
The temporary location at 1400 Henderson Hwy. closed earlier this month, Berhardt also confirmed.
“Fewer labs in the community will lead to less access and longer lineups,” Andy Regier, one of the organizers of the Protecting Healthcare in Northeast Winnipeg group, said. “These closures will add more stress and strain to seniors and residents who don’t have access to a vehicle or who face barriers to getting around. It’s just a matter of time before the lines will stretch down the sidewalk, causing frustration and turning some patients away.”
“There’s been no public notice about this, and that’s what I think is so wrong,” Wills added. “It’s inconvenient, and a stressful situation for seniors because it has been taken out of our community.”
Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist
Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112
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Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist
Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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