Staffing problems delay new Portage hospital

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE — Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says a commitment to patient safety and the complexities of modern medical technology are the primary drivers behind the delayed opening of the new Portage la Prairie hospital.

Following a meeting with Portage Mayor Sharilyn Knox and local community leaders, Asagwara addressed the decision to move the facility’s “first patient day” from November 2026 to April 2027. The minister noted that the region requested more time to ensure the transition to the brand-new, digitally integrated hospital is a success.

“Our number one priority always is patient safety,” Asagwara said. “This isn’t one program or just an emergency room. We’re talking about a huge brand-new hospital that is going to be open with modern digital technology … it adds additional complexities that we need to make sure are completely addressed before we welcome that first patient.”

The delay is being used to focus on “catch-up” work regarding the training, recruitment and retention of health-care professionals. The Health Minister said while the building was announced in 2021, planning for frontline staffing and training did not begin until 2023. Asagwara emphasized that the province is currently working with post-secondary institutions to increase training seats and create pathways for residents to join the local workforce.

“A building is just a building without staff,” Asagwara added. “A bed is just a bed without someone at the bedside providing care to Manitobans.”

Regarding the persistent community lobbying for an MRI machine to be included in the new build, the minister confirmed there are no immediate plans to install one. Asagwara explained the current priority is training the diagnostic technologists and technicians required to staff existing services before adding new capacity.

However, the province is not closing the door on the technology indefinitely. Asagwara said the government is working with Shared Health to review the diagnostic needs of the growing Central Plains region.

“We are completely open to taking that step if our lead for diagnostics in the province says that the population size and the need warrants it,” the minister said. “We’re doing the work of adding additional training capacity so that should we take that step, we actually have the people in the province who can staff it.”

While April 2026 is the official target, Asagwara suggested that a sooner opening could be possible if the regional health authority meets its readiness goals earlier than expected. For now, the focus remains on building a stronger relationship with municipal leaders to ensure the hospital’s long-term success.

“We want for communities all over the province to know that we’re working with their representatives to move health care in a better direction. We’re really excited for the future of health care in Southern Health,” Asagwara said.

» Portage Graphic Leader