Following the news that the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) recently cancelled 123 elective surgeries after three of their four operating rooms in Thompson were closed due to water damage, CEO Helga Bryant wanted to assure the public that they can still provide emergency care.
“Our goal right now … is to always have one surgeon and one anesthetist [on call], because that is what we require in order to be able deal with emergencies,” she told the Thompson Citizen July 23.
The NRHA also has one obstetrician and three operating room nurses on call in Thompson to help perform emergency procedures and emergency C-sections.
To keep their single remaining operating room open for emergencies, the NRHA is helping patients receive elective procedures elsewhere in the province.
“Every provider in Thompson is working with patients, working with Winnipeg, with The Pas and with Flin Flon to make sure that where clinical things need to happen that they are happening without delay,” said Bryant. “I think that’s really the message, is that everybody cares. Everybody cares very much about making sure that our patients get the service they need.”
Thompson General Hospital’s three operating rooms have been shut down for nearly eight weeks since water damage, stemming from a faulty rooftop air conditioning unit, was discovered June 1.
Last week, an NRHA representative said the cleanup and full restoration of these operating rooms could take up to six months to complete.
During a July 18 public forum in Thompson, Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew told attendees that the hospital’s insurance company only wants to restore the operating rooms to the state they were before being damaged rather than the current industry standard.
The Thompson General Hospital’s operating room area was originally built in 1957 and renovated to the current layout in 1972.
However, Bryant wouldn’t confirm or deny any ongoing dispute between the NRHA and their insurance company, and simply said the proper procedure is being followed.
“I, as a CEO, really need to be leading that process and ensure that that is moving along as quickly as possible,” she said. “And I’m happy. I’m happy with the way it’s going. There’s good conversation happening and the process is being followed.”
Back in May, the Manitoba government announced they would be spending $28 million on health care projects in the province. This included funding for a new roof and new operating room doors in the Thompson General Hospital and upgrades to its pharmacy security, nurse call system and lighting.
Some of that funding was originally announced in February 2018 but did not proceed during the 2018-19 fiscal year.
Bryant didn’t comment on whether or not this funding could be used to restore damaged operating rooms in Thompson.
