The Provincial Government announced further sweeping changes to the Manitoba’s health care system yesterday, introducing a stand-alone agency called Shared Health Services Manitoba, which is expected to assume the roles and responsibilities formerly tasked to Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, in addition to new powers.
The changes, said Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen, come about as a result of recommendations contained in two recent reports commissioned by government by Dr. David Peachey, and the financial consulting firm KPMG.
“Like the previous sweeping changes to health care – closing emergency rooms and urgent care centres – we don’t have much detail. This is very stressful for patients and their families and for the hardworking staff who provide the services,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “It appears at first blush like this is another reshuffling of resources that could be better spent on front-line services and patient care.”
According to the Province’s news release, the resources of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, which administratively houses a number of Provincial programs, and the functions of DSM and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL) will be reviewed and reallocated between the new provincial health organization and a scaled-back Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Regional health authorities will continue to be responsible for the provision of front-line health-care services in their region, while some health-care services will be managed centrally. This includes the operation of Health Sciences Centre and Children’s Hospital, Transplant Manitoba, provincial laboratories, diagnostic imaging and emergency medical services.