‘Take it to the bank’: premier insists temporary ER will open in Dauphin by Labour Day, but nurses skeptical

Premier Wab Kinew pledged on Tuesday that a temporary emergency department (ER) will be operational at Dauphin's flood-damaged hospital by Labour Day, though he provided no specifics about the plan. Dauphin's Regional Health Centre had to shut down on July 1 after severe flooding forced the evacuation of 54 patients. The Prairie Mountain Health regional health authority estimated that repairing the hospital could take nine to 12 months before it could reopen. Kinew took to social media on Monday, promising the ER would open by Labour Day on Sept. 7.

Dauphin nurses, however, expressed skepticism about the timeline, questioning how patients admitted to the temporary ER would be accommodated and how they would receive necessary medical services. Premier Kinew stated that the physicians identified the essential features needed for the temporary ER, and they are now working to establish it for Labour Day. The health authority did not comment on the matter, instead deferring to the premier's decision.