‘They need action now’: fed-up nurses grey-list Seven Oaks hospital over safety concerns

Manitoba Nurses Union has officially classified Seven Oaks General Hospital as a "grey-listed" facility due to persistent safety concerns. Union officials announced this measure following a June vote by hospital staff, where 98% of nurses agreed to the action. President of the Manitoba Nurses Union, Darlene Jackson, expressed frustration in a press release stating that nurses are "done with delays" and "need action now" concerning understaffed shifts and unsafe working conditions.

Seven Oaks is the fourth hospital in Manitoba to receive this designation, joining the Health Sciences Centre, Thompson General Hospital, and St. Boniface Hospital. Security cameras at Seven Oaks have reportedly been repaired and staffing has improved, but nurses argue these measures fail to address ongoing workload issues. They further claim that an additional overnight triage nurse position is only a temporary one-year appointment, with no assurance of its continuation.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara acknowledged the nurses' concerns and the province's willingness to address them. She emphasized that Manitoba's government remains committed to improving safety and staffing across the healthcare system. Asagwara pointed out lower nurse vacancy rates as evidence of progress, but reiterated the government's ongoing efforts to meet evolving health care needs.