Manitoba adds 103 community spaces to ease hospital strain

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is creating 103 new community spaces to help patients move from hospitals into long-term care and housing.

The $7.2 million plan aims to ease the strain on emergency departments by freeing up hospital beds, as the list of people waiting for long-term care, housing and other supports tops 600.

"I’ve heard directly from so many of you in our communities and on the front lines of our healthcare system that in order to address access block, in order to reduce those wait times, we need to make sure we have the right care in our communities for Manitobans," said Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care.

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The new spaces will be located at Siloam Mission, 1400 Notre Dame, Ten Ten Sinclair Housing, and n’dinawemak, with additional transitional care spaces being added at Deer Lodge Centre.

Also included is a mobile support team that will help 25 Winnipeg patients transition back home after leaving the hospital.

Richard Nakka said his wife waited in a Winnipeg hospital for two months before being placed at Deer Lodge, a long-term care facility.

"Pauline’s been here about a year, and she’s happy, she enjoys it. I think the more people that are able to take advantage of that, the better it is for everyone," said Nakka.

He says it’s been much better for her and he’s happy to hear more supports are going to become available to combat the long wait times people are facing to get a bed.

The new spaces come at a price tag of $7.2 million and includes wrap around services needed to support people with varying medical needs.

Pauline Kindzierski is a patient at Deer Lodge, a long term care facility in Winnipeg.

With files from CityNews