Manitoba government restructures Winnipeg’s home care system

The Manitoba government is restructuring Winnipeg’s home-care system after challenges with the scheduling model earlier this year, saying the changes will reduce cancellations and better support staff.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara apologized for the rollout, saying the province stepped in after worker and client concerns weren’t fully addressed by the WRHA.

“There was a change that happened already this year, the WRHA centralized home care scheduling with the intention of improving those services, and that transition did not go the way it should have,” said Asagwara.

“There are concerns brought forward to the WRHA that went unheard, there are actions that should have been taken that were not, our government directly intervened in home care to provide support and structure to the WRHA to make the necessary changes to stabilize home care.”

Changes include predictive scheduling starting October 1st, clerks assigned to geographic areas, and upgrades to scheduling systems aimed at cutting cancellations and reducing travel time for aids. Since last fall, the provinces say more than 250 new home care aides and thirty-two clerks have been hired.

“Talking about what we can do to make home care better by listening to the frontlines, working together, working with unions, all this action produces the results Manitoba needs in home care,” said Asagwara.

Manitoba Nurses Union President Darlene Jackson says she’s hopeful these changes will ensure nurses, home-care aids, and clients are better supported, but despite this, Jackson says the Union has formed a committee of frontline workers and health staff, which is preparing recommendations on further improvements to the system.

“It’s been extremely frustrating for those home care nurses who thought they were offering valid solutions, and it was like anything they said fell on deaf ears,” said Jackson.

“We will be releasing our report. We’re doing up from nurses and I truly hope the government takes that into account when we release it.”

Also, beginning October 1st, home care workers will gain access to expanded benefits under the Healthcare Employee Benefit Plans, including pensions, extended health coverage, and paid sick days.