Indigenous, Black patients wait longer for care in Winnipeg ERs: report
Patients who identify as Indigenous, African, or Black are experiencing longer wait times in Winnipeg emergency departments compared to white patients, according to a recent report that analyzed how different racial groups are treated in patient care settings.
Dr. Marcia Anderson led the race, ethnicity, and Indigenous identity data project team on behalf of Manitoba Shared Health, which released the report. The data revealed that Indigenous patients and white patients had similar triage scores, challenging the common stereotype that Indigenous individuals misuse emergency departments. Despite this, African and/or Black patients faced the longest wait times, even when presenting with serious medical issues.
On average, patients in Manitoba wait 3.4 hours in emergency rooms, while African and/or Black patients wait an average of 3.9 hours, the longest wait time among all racial or ethnic groups. The report recommended that all emergency department staff undergo Indigenous cultural safety, anti-racism, and anti-Black racism training to address these disparities.
Dr. Anderson stated that marginalized individuals with limited resources often face the most severe impacts within a stressed healthcare system. The report also highlighted that Indigenous patients were more likely to leave emergency rooms without receiving care, with over 16% leaving before seeing a doctor. Longer wait times, racism, and discrimination may contribute to Indigenous patients being twice as likely to leave without treatment compared to white patients.
The data collection began in 2023, when patients were asked to self-declare their racial or ethnic background during hospital admissions. Over 618,000 emergency room visits between May 2023 and September 2024 were analyzed, with only 8% of patients declining to provide racial or ethnic data. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara emphasized the importance of consistent and high-quality data to address healthcare disparities.
Dr. Barry Lavallee, CEO of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc., expressed concerns that the report did not fully capture the experiences of First Nations individuals seeking emergency care. He highlighted the need for qualitative data to understand the impact of racism within emergency rooms and address the specific challenges faced by Indigenous patients.
Moving forward, further research should focus on gathering information directly from First Nations individuals to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the barriers they face in accessing healthcare services. By addressing systemic racism and prioritizing cultural safety training, healthcare providers can work towards creating more equitable and inclusive emergency care for all patients.
