Patient dies while waiting for care in ER at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre

A tragic incident occurred at Health Sciences Centre’s emergency department in Winnipeg on Tuesday morning, where a patient passed away after waiting for eight hours for care. Dr. Shawn Young, the chief operating officer of the hospital, revealed that the middle-aged man was brought in by ambulance shortly after midnight and his condition deteriorated significantly by 8 a.m. He was rushed to a resuscitation room but unfortunately could not be saved.
The patient, classified as a low-acuity case, was on track to wait for 10 hours or more before being seen, a wait time that affects approximately one out of 10 patients at HSC. With around 100 patients in the emergency department that night, the hospital was already dealing with a high volume of cases. The situation was exacerbated by the cold weather, which led to more individuals seeking shelter and safety at the hospital.
Dr. Young highlighted that the hospital’s resuscitation beds were fully occupied that night, and they were facing challenges with throughput due to the backlog within the healthcare system. Despite the staffing levels being close to the baseline, with 21 out of 24-25 nurses on duty, the system was overwhelmed, leading to delays in transferring patients back to their communities or residences.
The hospital has initiated an investigation, involving interviews with staff, assessment of protocols, and review of security footage. Dr. Manon Pelletier, the chief medical officer, expressed the profound impact of the patient’s death on the staff, emphasizing the emotional toll it has taken on them.
The wait times at HSC’s emergency department have been a concern, with data from November indicating a median wait of 3.8 hours and 10% of patients waiting for more than 13 hours. As of Tuesday morning, the posted wait time was 8.25 hours, with approximately 50 patients in the waiting room. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara extended condolences and mentioned ongoing discussions with healthcare leaders to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The hospital’s investigation continues, and measures are being evaluated to address the challenges faced by the healthcare system. The tragic loss of the patient has underscored the need for improvements in patient care and system efficiency to prevent such heartbreaking outcomes in the future.