Winnipeg woman says little has changed since 26-hour ER wait in 2025

A 73-year-old Winnipeg woman, Beverley Masters, recounted her recent 26-hour ordeal in the emergency department of the Health Science Centre (HSC) in 2025, expressing disappointment over the lack of progress in reducing wait times. Masters, who has a history of breast cancer, was admitted to Grace Hospital's Cancer Care Manitoba ward until it was temporarily shut down. Following her cancer's recurrence, she began receiving treatment at HSC.

Upon her admission, Masters was told she could only enter the urgent care through an ambulance. She spent the first 14 hours not in the emergency room but on a stretcher in a hallway, waiting for a bed. Other patients joined her, sitting with no privacy or access to basic amenities. Eventually, she received a 15-minute ultrasound and blood thinners, the same treatment she received shortly after her admission in 2023.

Masters has written to Manitoba's government, requesting a cancer care-specific emergency department, but has not received a response. She has since reached out to Global News, hoping to bring attention to the issue. Theresa Chanowski, whose mother faced a similar experience at HSC, shared her concern about the system's failure to address the traumatic situation.

Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara acknowledged the need to address extended wait times, while Dr. Shawn Young, the chief medical officer at HSC, emphasized the importance of investing in primary care and community resources. Ray Sanchez, vice-president of acute services at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, noted that various programs will be required to tackle the emergency department wait times, which he described as an ongoing challenge due to increasing demand.