Emergency doctors at St. Boniface Hospital expressed their frustration regarding the prolonged wait times at Manitoba’s second-largest hospital, noting that such delays have become increasingly accepted over the years.
Dr. Aaron Guinn reported that there were 57 individuals seeking care in the Winnipeg emergency department during his last shift on Wednesday evening. He remarked that these figures would have been considered “unthinkable” in the past, yet it was not even the worst day the department has encountered this week.
On Monday, approximately 70 patients were in the waiting area, according to Dr. Noam Katz, another emergency physician who spoke to CBC News. He noted that some individuals had been waiting for over 20 hours with no progress in their care.
Guinn indicated that the number of people waiting for care that evening reached 75, which he described as an unprecedented figure for the hospital. He mentioned that the previous high of 74 was recorded shortly after the new emergency department was inaugurated last fall.
“Even a year ago, I would have considered [Wednesday] one of our worst days ever,” Guinn stated on Thursday.
“Currently, having [57] patients in the waiting room seems like a bad day but not unusual.”
The physicians pointed out that the primary cause of the persistently long wait times, such as those experienced earlier this week, is known as “access block.” This occurs when emergency departments must retain patients who are otherwise ready for transfer due to a lack of available space in other areas of the healthcare system.
Dr. Noam Katz describes long treatment waits as akin to ‘the frog in a pot of boiling water.’ (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)
Guinn observed that on Wednesday evening, 52 out of 64 treatment spaces in the department were occupied by patients awaiting admission to other wards, leaving emergency staff with only 12 beds available.
“We will attempt to begin treating patients in unconventional areas such as hallways and the waiting room, because doing something is better than doing nothing,” he remarked.
“It’s distressing for the patients… It pains me to see vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, waiting over a day to be seen by a physician, stuck in a hallway.”
An Ongoing Issue, According to Doctors
Katz pointed out that access block is not a new phenomenon. He highlighted a 2024 report from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, which includes contributions from a former doctor at St. Boniface.
It’s “the frog in a pot of boiling water,” Katz explained. “We now consider it remarkable if we see patients within 10 hours. In comparison to our previous standards, that’s outrageous.”
Katz mentioned that the lack of action over the years has resulted in many physicians feeling disheartened. He noted that at least one colleague recently mentioned the possibility of leaving emergency medicine altogether.
-
Extended-hour clinics to treat patients waiting in Winnipeg’s ERs: health minister
-
Doctors Manitoba report outlines roadmap to speed up patient care
“Failing to provide timely emergency care in a department will result in more negative patient outcomes, including the fatalities we have witnessed,” he warned.
Stacey Ross, 55, passed away after an 11-hour wait at St. Boniface Hospital in January. This incident is being investigated as a critical occurrence. Similarly, Judy Burns, 68, died at the same hospital a few days later, with her family stating that their concerns were consistently ignored by emergency department staff.
The Progressive Conservative Party called for a public inquiry into these deaths on Wednesday, as well as those of six-month-old Luca Teng at HSC Children’s Hospital and 82-year-old Genevieve Price, who also succumbed after lengthy waits at Grace and St. Boniface hospitals in November.
Increase in Visits Since Renovations, Says Minister
A representative from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority stated they could not verify if the figures from Monday represented a record high, but acknowledged a recent uptick in admissions.
They attributed the rise in patient numbers partly to a severe respiratory virus season and an increase in visitors since the new emergency department was established.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara noted in a statement that admissions have risen by approximately 12 percent since then, with the hospital experiencing around 400 additional visits each month. To manage this surge, an extra internal medicine doctor has been added to St. Boniface, Asagwara added.
The minister also mentioned that the government has implemented various strategies to enhance patient flow, including the addition of 36 fully staffed beds at the hospital.
Guinn mentioned that the hospital has made numerous adjustments over the years to mitigate emergency department wait times. Most recently, a doctor has been designated to assist with the triage process.
-
Winnipeg family seeks answers after 55-year-old dies following hours-long wait in St. Boniface ER
-
Grieving family frustrated, angry with mother’s treatment at Winnipeg ER
“Triage has become a daunting environment for nurses, especially with 70 patients in the waiting area,” Guinn stated.
Recently, St. Boniface was designated as the third hospital to be grey-listed by Manitoba nurses over safety concerns this past year.
“You have two nurses in charge, expected to somehow provide medical attention to those 70 patients,” Guinn commented. “It’s unrealistic. That is simply not feasible.”
Concerns About Expansion
A $141-million initiative to expand the hospital’s emergency department is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year, increasing its capacity.
Katz and Guinn acknowledged that modernization is enhancing the quality of care but expressed concerns that the additional space will not resolve the fundamental issue of access block.
When your sink gets clogged, the solution to fixing it isn’t building a bigger sink.Dr. Noam Katz
“When your sink is clogged, expanding it isn’t the solution,” Katz emphasized.
He expressed uncertainty regarding whether there would be additional funding for the nursing staff required to make the expansion operational in the fall.
Guinn shared his concerns that there may not be sufficient doctors to accommodate the expansion, as the province continues to face a shortage of ER physicians despite ongoing recruitment efforts both domestically and internationally.
“I’m anxious about our future,” the doctor mentioned.
-
Initial phase of St. Boniface Hospital’s new emergency department opens to public
-
Vote to grey-list St. Boniface Hospital reflects concerns about safety for nurses and patients: union
Guinn expressed that he believes the government is doing its best, but the situation remains critical.
“I lie awake at night worrying… that my parents will not receive the care they need,” he said. “[That] there will be no resources available for them.”
The WRHA representative stated that efforts to decrease wait times across city hospitals are ongoing. They mentioned that since April 2025, 10 new critical care beds and nearly 100 additional beds for medicine, surgery, and mental health have been added in the city.
Emergency physicians at Winnipeg’s St. Boniface Hospital, who have years of experience, believe that simply expanding the emergency department won’t address the fundamental problems leading to prolonged wait times.