August 7, 2024

BEREZA: NDP Refuse to Listen as Calls Grow Louder for Portage la Prairie MRI

It is impossible to have a conversation in Portage la Prairie or the surrounding area and not hear of the need for an MRI in the new Portage Regional Health Centre, scheduled to open in 2026.

Following a letter sent to the Minister of Health (and copied to me) by a group of 35 local doctors highlighting this need, my constituency office has received an overwhelming amount of correspondence and feedback on the topic. To date, over 3,000 people have taken the time to sign our petition, and more people are stopping by my office to sign it every day.

We are hearing from patients who had to travel on icy highways or during blizzards. We are hearing from doctors who are hesitant to refer a patient for a needed MRI knowing the burden that transportation can be. We are looking at public data showing wait times of up to 47 weeks. We are watching the numbers of people waiting on an MRI climb to over 24,560.

What we are not hearing is an acceptable reason or informed argument against an MRI being included at the new Portage hospital. In fact, we are not hearing anything at all from the NDP government.

I want to be abundantly clear: NOW is the best time to include an MRI, during the construction phase. We all know it’s cheaper to build than to renovate—that is why we are getting a new hospital in the first place, because of the deplorable condition of the existing facility. Then there is the Portage Hospital Foundation’s generous offer of 

$5 million toward an MRI. Add to that the over-3,000 residents who need this diagnostic service every year according to this government’s own math.

The problem cannot be space, because we are actively building a new facility. The problem cannot be cost, because of the aforementioned $5 million. The problem, then, could only be staffing… but if this government was listening, they would know that there are individuals ready and willing to take the training to operate this machine.

Yet, rather than take this as an opportunity to provide much-needed diagnostic services and rewarding careers in our community, the government continues to wait and costs continue to rise.

Residents throughout south-central Manitoba already come to Portage la Prairie for surgeries and procedures. I have nothing but faith that, given the choice between waiting almost a year to be referred to Winnipeg or over three months elsewhere in the province, many would jump at the chance to come to Portage.

There will be negative health outcomes as this government dithers. And it is Manitobans who will pay the price because this government, who claims to be a “listening government,” refuses to listen to our citizens, our doctors, and our community who have clearly outlined the need for this machine in the new hospital.

This government owes an explanation. Why are they so opposed to needed healthcare in Portage? We’re listening.

You can sign my petition to support bringing an MRI machine to Portage la Prairie online at pcmbcaucus.com/PortageMRI.

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