November 27, 2020

Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg MB—The Pallister government is closing a community IV clinic at the Transcona ACCESS centre with no public notice in the middle of a global pandemic.

This morning, in front of the ACCESS centre, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew stood alongside NDP MP for Elmwood-Transcona and members of his caucus to call on the provincial government to keep the clinic open for the thousands of north-east Winnipeg families who rely on it.

“This is the last thing families in north-east Winnipeg need right now,” said Kinew. “This is good quality care that keeps patients out of our overloaded hospitals and provides supports in the community close to home. Closing it is just another one of Mr. Pallister’s short-sighted cuts that puts money ahead of health care for families. It’s not too late for him to to do the right thing and keep this clinic open.”

The clinic at ACCESS Transcona is part of the WRHA’s community IV program and provides antibiotic therapy for patients who have an infection or require more care but are well enough to be discharged from hospital. According to WRHA officials, the program has increased in popularity by 40% over the last few years because of its flexibility.

In 2018 the Pallister government closed several community IV clinics as part of their disruptive health care system re-organization. The decision to close Transcona’s clinic comes after the PCs cut several health care facilities in the north-east region, including the emergency room at Concordia Hospital, the local CancerCare clinic and several Dynacare diagnostic labs.

“People in northeast Winnipeg have had enough of the Conservatives’ reckless cuts,” said MP Daniel Blaikie. “We’ve already lost access to emergency care close to home and even cancer care. Our community deserves good health services and we’re sick and tired of Conservatives on Broadway telling us we’re not worth it. The Premier should do the right thing and keep this clinic open.”

Sources at the ACCESS centre confirm the clinic will close Monday yet no public notice has been issued.