More than 4.7K health-care workers hired in Manitoba since 2023: province
The province says it has hired more than 4,700 health-care workers since October of 2023, and that almost 1,500 of the new additions are nurses.
Manitoba has added a significant number of health-care workers since October 2023, according to the provincial government. This includes 370 physicians, 1,464 nurses, 2,152 health-care aides, and 607 allied health professionals, bringing the total to more than 4,700 new hires. Premier Wab Kinew highlighted the increased workforce at a news conference, stating that it addresses the ongoing challenges in emergency rooms, urgent cares, surgeries, and diagnostics.
However, there is still a long way to go, as the province continues to face shortages in various healthcare services. Provincial Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara noted that Manitoba is now attracting health-care professionals and training a record number of them. Dr. Ayomikun Soyombo, an emergency medicine physician from the United Kingdom, expressed his long-standing desire to work in Manitoba, having waited 16 years since his medical school days in Nigeria.
The president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, Jason Linklater, emphasized that while the increase in staff is a positive step, the government should focus on reducing wait times for patients and maintaining high standards of care. Linklater highlighted the need for specialized personnel, such as MRI and CT technologists, as well as rural paramedics and respiratory therapists, to address ongoing staffing shortages.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
