Staffing shortages at two Manitoba hospitals prompt state of emergency

The union representing Manitoba’s nurses says a state of emergency has been declared as two of the province’s hospitals struggle with critical and chronic understaffing.

The Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) said it was formally notified Monday that the Northern Health Region declared a state of emergency in response to “critical staffing shortages” at Thompson General Hospital’s emergency and obstetrics departments, specialized care unit, and its operating rooms and at The Pas General Hospital’s emergency department and specialized care unit.

“This is what a system in crisis looks like,” the MNU wrote in a social media post.

“Nurses are exhausted. They are overwhelmed. Vacancy rates continue to climb, and there is no clear plan to fix it.”

The union called on Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara to act quickly to address chronic understaffing – a crisis it called predictable and preventable.

“A declared state of emergency cannot be met with silence or delay. It demands immediate, decisive action,” the post said.

CTV News has reached out to Asagwara for comment on the matter and is awaiting a response.

This is a developing story. More details to come.

- With files from CTV’s Harrison Shin