Health region posts deficit for fifth year

Prairie Mountain Health revealed it had a deficit of $34.2 million in the last fiscal year during its annual general meeting on Wednesday in Brandon.

The amount breaks down to $29.2 million for operations and $5 million in capital, said Dan McGregor, the regional health authority’s chief financial officer.

The deficit is about $1.3 million higher than the previous year and marks the fifth year in a row the health authority has recorded a shortfall. In 2019, PMH had a surplus of $290,000.

“This deficit is largely related to staff vacancies that require nursing agency and overtime expenses to maintain site and program operations,’ McGregor said during the online presentation.

“PMH incurred nurse agency costs of $35.3 million in 2024-25,” he said.

That’s an increase of about $6.6 million from the previous fiscal year.

CEO Treena Slate said the health authority is working hard to reduce its reliance on agency nursing staff and overtime for staff throughout the region.

“Ongoing fiscal sustainability remains a key priority for the region, with a number of cost-savings measures ensuring that we have no impact to front-line care and services,” Slate said. “We have developed a three-year health human resource plan where recruitment and retention of staff is key,” she said.

On the physician recruitment front, the health authority hired two full-time recruiters who were able to find 40 new physicians for the region, said Dr. Adrian Fung, PMH’s chief medical officer.

Twenty-five of those doctors were recruited to Brandon, including specialists and general practitioners. An additional 15 family physicians, who were internationally trained and sponsored by PMH, were recruited to work in various rural communities.

“We have managed to make a 30 per cent improvement over that last fiscal year on physician staffing, which has been very positive, and we are moving in the right direction. We are hopeful to see that continue going forward,” Fung said.

Last year was also the start of the residency program in Neepawa, where family physicians are trained over a two-year residency program. They will graduate next fall.

The annual general meeting also provided updates on the progress of the critical care building at Brandon Regional Health Centre, upgrades at the nearby Western Manitoba Cancer Centre and construction of the new Neepawa Health Centre.

“The new Neepawa Health Centre will be four times the size of the existing hospital,” McGregor said.

“Features include 60 acute-care inpatient beds, up from 35 at the current Neepawa site, an expanded emergency department, trauma rooms and an ambulance bay and a new heliport.”

There will be a new hemodialysis suite with nine dialysis stations, more space for surgery, diagnostics and cancer care. Throughout the build, Indigenous groups have been consulted about the facility’s design, spiritual care, space and artwork.

“We are expecting the building to be turned over to PMH at the end of 2026 with the first patient being seen in 2027,” McGregor said.

The critical care building at BRHC is in the final stages of construction, with a 16-bed intensive care unit on the main level and 30 medical beds on the second floor. It is expected to be finished this winter, with the first patients anticipated in early 2026.

“Construction on the expanded and renovated Western Manitoba Cancer Centre is complete,” McGregor said.

The expansion of WMCC included six exam rooms, an area for minor procedures and space for the new medical linear accelerator, which is used for radiation treatments.

Next to WMCC is the Paul Albrechtsen Centre for Hope, which offers physical and emotional wellness programs for patients and families who have cancer.

Slate thanked the health region’s staff, physicians and “volunteer heroes” for their dedication, saying they are making a “tremendous difference” in the communities.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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