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Manitoba doctors warn healthcare system under strain with growing numbers of COVID-19 – Winnipeg

The group that represents doctors across the province says there is a growing backlog of surgeries and more cancellations of important procedures as the COVID-19 pandemic rages in Manitoba.

Dr Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba, said on Tuesday: “We are very close to the brink.

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Non-emergency heart surgery canceled in Manitoba due to staffing challenge: Shared Health

“This pandemic has shown how inflexible our health care system is.”

In response to the increasing number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units, the province has shifted resources from other areas. It has reduced the number of surgeries and diagnostic tests.


Click to play video: 'Manitoba couple fly to Mexico to avoid surgery backlog in province'







Manitoba couple fly to Mexico to avoid surgery backlog in province


Manitoba couple fly to Mexico to avoid provincial surgery backlog – November 29, 2021

In recent days, they have canceled a number of non-emergency heart surgeries to ensure they have enough staff to accommodate the intensive care beds.

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Tracked by Manitoba doctors, the backlog of tests and surgeries has grown each month. The group’s latest data shows the backlog of surgeries last month rose by more than 2,300 to 56,000 for the first time last month.

Most diagnostic tests, including mammograms and ultrasounds, also show a larger backlog, while waiting lists for MRI scans are slightly reduced.

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Manitoba man’s triple surgery canceled hours before

Thompson said he’s concerned the province is getting close to being as bad as it was last spring when dozens of intensive care patients were moved to other provinces because of a lack of beds.

He said: “Although the number of people in the intensive care unit is lower than during last spring’s peak, the situation is problematic as nurses and other workers are leaving the ICU and emergency department.

“There’s a lot of people who are getting fed up, they’re leaving to work in other areas of healthcare, other medical specialties,” Thompson said.


Click to play video: 'Manitoba announces expansion of Selkirk hospital, backlog of surgery scheduled for next week'







Manitoba announces expansion of Selkirk hospital, backlog of surgery scheduled for next week


Manitoba announces expansion of Selkirk hospital, backlog of surgery scheduled for next week

“I think people leave because they feel they can’t take care of patients the way they should.”

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Health Secretary Audrey Gordon’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gordon had promised her to introduce a new workgroup on Wednesday to ease the backlog.

Read more:

Manitoba reports first case of Omicron COVID-19 variant

Dr Manitoba’s statistics come on the same day the province announced its first known COVID-19 case linked to the Omicron variant.

The province said the person was showing mild symptoms and had come from one of the 10 African countries the federal government has placed restrictions on because of this variant.

Have a question about COVID-19? Here are a few things you need to know:

Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath – very similar to a cold or flu. Some people may develop more severe disease. Those most at risk for this condition include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung, or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

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To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend washing your hands often and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying at home as much as possible, and maintaining a two-meter distance from others if you are out. In situations where you cannot keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of non-medical masks or face coverings to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets. can carry the virus. In some provinces and cities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.

For the full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, visit our coronavirus page.

© 2021 Canadian Press

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