Riding Mountain MP Dan Mazier is concerned about Prairie Mountain Health’s response to the situation at Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
In a letter to Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, Mazier indicated as the federal representative for the area, he has been effectively stonewalled in his attempts to tour the facility and assess the damage for himself.
“Despite repeated efforts by myself and my office, Prairie Mountain Health failed to respond in a timely manner or facilitate a visit. Instead, they offered a Microsoft Teams meeting nearly two weeks later,” Mazier said in the letter, adding a virtual meeting weeks into the closure of a critical regional hospital is insulting to the seriousness of this situation and demonstrates an unacceptable lack of urgency.
“This is particularly troubling given that Premier Wab Kinew and members of the media were permitted to visit the facility, suggesting that political considerations may be influencing what should be a non-partisan response.”
While he continues to work with his federal counterparts on a response to the crisis, Mazier indicated the community, which expects all levels of government to work together, should not have to wait for PMH to engage their elected representatives.
“Even more concerning, health care professionals raised serious concerns with me about the lack of timely information and visible attention from Prairie Mountain Health’s senior leadership,” Mazier continued, indicating it is unclear whether PMH CEO Treena Slate has personally visited the facility.
“Leadership cannot be exercised from a distance during a time of crisis. Frontline workers are operating under extraordinarily difficult circumstances while being left without adequate updates or clear direction.”
Mazier indicated he has also heard concerns about the temporary triage clinic established in the wake of the closure, including a lack of medications, equipment or clinical capacity required to treat patients who arrive with a medical emergency.
“Physicians have proposed practical temporary solutions, including a mobile medical unit, yet I am advised that these proposals have received no meaningful response from either your department or Prairie Mountain Health,” Mazier wrote.
A lack of communication between PMH’s senior leadership, physicians and other health care professionals has frontline workers operating without consistent information or a co-ordinated plan.
“These reports require immediate investigation and a clear public explanation from your department and Prairie Mountain Health,” Mazier said.
The community is facing uncertainty when it comes to health care and a lack of communication is further eroding their confidence, Mazier wrote.
Regular communication with health care professionals and the public, providing clear information on the plan and timeline for restoring hospital services is crucial, Mazier indicated, adding he has been actively advocating with the Minister of Emergency Management to ensure the federal government understands the severity of the flooding and the urgent needs facing the region.
“I have also called for targeted federal assistance to support the restoration of hospital services. However, delayed responses and absent leadership undermine that co-operation and our ability to support affected residents,” Mazier indicated to Asagwara.
“Every level of government should be working together to support the people of the Parkland region.”