Health officials fielded questions Thursday night to reassure Roblin and Shoal Lake residents that disruptions to some of their health services are only a temporary measure.
The virtual town hall meeting featured Health Minister Cameron Friesen, alongside Lanette Siragusa, and PMH CEO Penny Gilson.
Petr Kresta, Chief Operating Officer of diagnostic services with Shared Health said the issue is a matter of staffing — and that work to fill vacant positions is ongoing.
“I am committed, and I know my team is committed to finding as many staff as we possibly can in the quickest way possible to return our staffing levels to pre-suspension levels to we can return the services to where they were at,” said Kresta
Manitoba’s Health Minister added that some x-ray services have already been restored as for Shoal Lake and Roblin, on an outpatient basis.
Friesen said “in Shoal Lake, X-ray is now being offered 1 day a week,” and added, “in Roblin, X-ray services were reestablished for 2 days per week earlier this week, and work is ongoing to recruit staff to fully restore the X-ray and laboratory service to a level that would properly support an emergency department.”
One resident on the virtual town hall meeting asked for an exact date when services might be restored. Petr Kresta with Shared Health replied he cant say, “because we have not yet been able to been able to recruit staff into all of the positions that we have in the Russell, Roblin, Shoal Lake area.”
