Manitoba closing some rural hospitals
Government plan includes conversion to personal care homes
Premier Brian Pallister says some hospitals in rural Manitoba will be closed or converted into personal care homes as part of the Progressive Conservative government’s plan to reform health care.
The province is dealing with an aging population, some rural communities are shrinking, and people who could be in a personal care home are instead in hospital in some cases, Pallister said in a year-end news conference Thursday.
“A lot of beds are being taken — I don’t like hearing seniors referred to as bed-blockers, but that’s the phrase that’s being used out there,” he said.
“So we know part of the solution is (personal care homes), but we also know part of the solution is better care available to people so they can stay in their own home, too.”
The Tories promised in last year’s election campaign to fasttrack the construction of 1,200 personal care home beds. They promised in last month’s throne speech to enhance home care services.
The Opposition New Democrats accused Pallister of backing away from his health-care promises.
“Closing rural hospitals isn’t what Manitobans voted for,” NDP Leader Wab Kinew said in a written statement. “We need Pallister to do more than give with one hand by taking with the other.”
Details of the rural hospital changes will be released in the near future, Pallister said. The move follows recent changes in Winnipeg that included the closure or conversion of three hospital emergency departments.
At the same time, Pallister said he remains firmly committed to cutting the provincial sales tax before the next election, slated for October 2020. He also said he will run in that election to seek a second term.