The provincial NDP government announced last week it will be consulting with Interlake residents on the design and development of its promised new emergency room for the Eriksdale hospital.
Health, seniors and long-term care minister Uzoma Asagwara said the province is holding an open house in Eriksdale early March so that people can weigh in with their thoughts on the project.
“Community advocacy has always been at the heart of this project and it will be critical for us to maintain that heart by bringing community members into the design process,” said Asagwara in a Jan. 30 news release. “Our government has been working closely with our partners in the Interlake to see this project through. This is an amazing opportunity for Interlake residents to help shape the future of health care in their region.”
In addition to providing Interlake residents with an opportunity for feedback, the province is holding multiple consultation meetings throughout February and early March, said the minister.
“The project team will meet with frontline staff and physicians, elected First Nation and municipal leaders, First Nation and tribal council health directors, the local My Health Team and many more partners,” said the minister.
Community members are invited to complete an online survey that’s posted on the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority’s website in advance of the open house.
The survey, which takes about 5-7 minutes to complete, asks people to respond to questions such as what physical improvements to the hospital’s emergency room would benefit patients, visitors and staff, with a selection of areas including the ambulance area, triage, patient waiting area and so forth, what aspects of the renovation would contribute to staff and physician recruitment and retention, and what top 3 factors – which includes wait times – should be met for a [good] patient experience. Respondents can also provide feedback not specifically addressed by the questions.
Marion Ellis, CEO of the Interlake-Eastern RHA, said in the news release that First Nations and communities the IERHA serves are valued partners in the ER renovation process.
“Nations and communities served by Interlake-Eastern Health in the Eriksdale area are valued partners,” said Ellis. “The renovation project is an opportunity to work together to improve the emergency department.”
Keith Lundale, president of the Eriksdale Chamber of Commerce and health-care advocate, said the consultation process is appreciated.
“From my position as Eriksdale and District Chamber of Commerce president, we welcome the consultation process with community involvement and the realization of this vital ER department to the residents of the RMs of West Interlake, Coldwell, St. Laurent and Lake Manitoba First Nation,” said Lundale in the news release.
The open house for the new ER is scheduled for March 6 at the Eriksdale Recreation Centre. A time was not sprovided in the news release.
The online survey will close on Feb. 21. It is available at: ierha.ca/news-updates
