WINNIPEG — The group representing Manitoba physicians is warning people in northern and rural areas that they could see reduced hours and periodic closures in emergency rooms this summer.
Doctors Manitoba says based on the data and feedback it has received, 20 — or one quarter of rural hospitals — will have their emergency rooms open around the clock.
"This isn't a new problem. It's been building for many years, but the prolonged uncertainty and short staffing is taking a toll," group president Dr. Nichelle Desilets said Thursday.
"It's sometimes described as whack-a-mole ... one closes, another one opens and then it closes and another opens."
The group has issued similar summer or holiday forecasts in the past. It began closely monitoring rural emergency room operations in 2022, forecasting at the time that 26 would have full coverage.
Since then, three of those reduced their hours or have periodic closures and another three are fully closed.
"It is a deterioration over a longer-term trend," said Keir Johnson, director of strategy, advocacy and communications with Doctors Manitoba.
The group said 24 emergency rooms are expected to operate with reduced hours or periodic closures, and 28 are expected to be fully closed, with five still considered a temporary suspension and 23 under longer-term closure.
A survey of its members found high levels of burnout and distress among members to the point that some are considering reducing their working hours or resigning their emergency room duties until something changes.
"Rural medicine is a difficult position to recruit into," said Desilets.
"In smaller hospitals we are sometimes one sick call away from not being able to maintain our services."
Desilets said the group also is hearing more calls for help from bigger hospitals in rural areas, such as Brandon, Morden-Winkler and Selkirk, where staffing shortages haven't led to closures but patients are instead diverted to other facilities.
It's not all bad news, the group says.
It has heard of some stabilization in places such as Pinawa, Powerview-Pine Falls and Killarney.
It also warned there could be more risk this summer as people choose to travel within Manitoba instead of to the United States, which could further strain hospital resources.
The organization urges residents to check the status of their local emergency room ahead of time.
It has a web page that provides information on operating hours and the status of emergency room operations.
The province did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
