Health officials in Manitoba are looking into a serious incident following the death of an 82-year-old woman who spent over 30 hours in emergency rooms at Grace and St. Boniface hospitals in Winnipeg. Genevieve Price’s family stated that she initially sought care at a minor injury clinic for a swollen hand last week. Clinic staff determined she needed IV antibiotics and more advanced treatment, leading to her transfer to Grace Hospital.
Price reportedly endured a prolonged wait on a stretcher in a hospital hallway, during which her condition deteriorated. She was subsequently moved to St. Boniface Hospital, where she passed away. Expressing her frustration, Price’s daughter, Michelle Price, who is a nurse, emphasized the need for better healthcare, citing deficiencies in the system.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, responsible for overseeing both hospitals, disclosed that Price’s death is under investigation as a critical incident, denoting serious, unintentional harm within the healthcare system. Kerstin Jordan, the authority’s chief officer for nursing, allied health, and quality, conveyed condolences to Price’s family and confirmed a thorough review is underway to prevent similar incidents.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara labeled Price’s death a tragedy and vowed to address the shortcomings that led to the unfortunate event. Asagwara stressed the importance of a comprehensive inquiry beyond the ongoing critical incident evaluation to prevent such occurrences in the future. The Minister also extended sympathies to the Price family and affirmed the commitment to enhancing healthcare services in Manitoba.