Health Estimates - The closure of labs in medical offices

Monday April 16, I asked the Minister for an update with respect to the closure of many laboratories in medical clinics in and near Winnipeg. My question and the Minister's response is below.

Mr. Gerrard: I had raised the issue of the closure of medical labs that–medical clinics in and around Winnipeg.

The minister said he was going to have an update. Wonder if the minister does.

Mr. Goertzen: I do in fact have an update.

So Dynacare, as the member knows, is a community-base private laboratory operating in Manitoba.

The department officials have had meetings with Dynacare, and I can advise that Dynacare has committed to adding additional staff during peak hours and Saturdays, in particular, in specific locations to accommodate the increased demand in existing laboratories.

And so I appreciate the undertaking that staff in our department made in terms of dialoguing with Dynacare and the concerns that have been raised.

Dynacare's also advised that consideration to the proximity of alternative locations has been part of their deliberations relative to access to services. Patients requiring STAT or urgent testing can visit the Lakewood medical or they can go to the Manitoba Clinic where STATs are processed on site. All other STAT tests are referred to the site located at the main lab on King Edward.

Dynacare has shared that it has begun to implement a net check-in application that will enable patients to view wait times on smart phones and choose the location to attend accordingly while registering online.

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