Review of health care in Manitoba recommends massive changes

A comprehensive review of health-care delivery in Manitoba calls for dramatic changes to service delivery, but the Progressive Conservative government has its own review on the go and may not commit to the sweeping changes.

The report was ordered by the previous NDP government and co-authored by Dr. David Peachey,a Nova Scotia-based principal with HealthIntelligence Inc.

The report calls for a reorganization of service delivery on a massive scale, especially in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The report recommendsconsolidating surgery at three hospitals and using the remaining facilities for convalescent and rehabilitation services. Emergency departments in three of Winnipeg's community hospitals would be closed and converted into urgent-care centres.

Money for health is tight. The PC government and other Canadian provincesare in a battle with Ottawa over the funding formula.

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Peachey saidproviding acute care at every hospital in Winnipegwas more than the population needed, required extra infrastructure and staffing and wasn't an efficient use of resources.

In rural Manitoba, the report recommends assessments to determine whether individual hospitals should continue to operate, look at how each facilityuses its beds and whether they should have emergency services.

Peachey saidmany hospital beds in rural Manitoba are taken by long-term continuing care patients.

"By that definition, they are not really hospitals," he said.

His report suggests more regional acute-care centres with better transportation services to them to improve care.

The report also recommends significant upgrades to the province's mental health-care services. The study found Manitoba had 19 clinical psychologists per 100,000 residents, when the Canadian average was 49.

"Its a striking differential. There is no question the role of psychologists in the mental health and addictions system can be greatly enhanced," Peachey told CBC News, adding that additional resources would improve access and cut wait times.

The report also suggests home-care services be upgraded and expanded, and those services should be offered to Indigenous communities.

First reviews are positive

Those who watch health-care policy voiced support for the report.

"Yes, there are some recommendations around hospital changes, but there are tons of recommendations around building palliative care services, home care, care of the elderly. These are all about community-based care, care that's appropriate for First Nations," said Dr. Alan Katz.

Katz is the director of theManitoba Centre for Health Policy. His first pass through the report was generally positive, and he saidthere is plenty of information to digest.

The MCHP hasn't itself lookedat closing rural hospitals or consolidating services at various facilities, but Katzdid have some observations about the review.

"There are some contradictions in the report. The report talks about the principle of providing care as close to the person's home or office as possible, but then talks about where services will be provided," Katz said, suggesting that closing or consolidating some services could mean patients would have to travel for care.

"If you no longer have an emergency room in the south end of the city, then you are no longer providing emergency services to the people that live in the south end of the city, as close as possible to their home."

Sarah Painter, vice-chair of the Association of Registered Nurses in Manitoba, said overallthe review is a "great starting point."

It suggests there could be changes in the role of nurses and nurse practitioners.

"It's the first time there has been a platform for provincial planning that's focused on the patient, and that is great. We are very pleased that Dr. Peachey recognized nurses and nurse practitioners as part of the team," Painter said.

Political will versus financial reality

The Progressive Conservatives have ordered their own review of health care and wait times in Manitoba. A report from KPMG has not been released, despite political pressure from the opposition to do so.

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Katz saidthe Peachey report may help focus the Tories on what cuts or additions they will make in the next budget.

"What this is giving them is some direction of the potential impact of some of those changes they might make for fiscal reasons," Katz said.

"This report is all about providing better care, and there are things in this report that are expensivebecause they are recognizing where we have significant gaps."

Peachey acknowledges there are political considerations that will be taken, but he stands behind his work.

"The plan is solid, it's based on evidence, and this has been the case in all jurisdictions," he said."It really is a question of how committed the leadership is to make it work."

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen wouldn't rule out accepting some of the report's recommendations. Hetold reporters on Wednesday there might be money found to paythe costs toswitch services at specific hospitals.

"I'm happy to receive it and I'm happy for the work that was done. It was commissioned by the previous government. A lot of what's in the Peachey report isn't about new capital, it's about reallocating how current capital works," Goertzen said.