Manitoba’s premier said a significant service will return to Dauphin by early next month. Premier Wab Kinew said in a video posted on social media Monday night that Dauphin will have a working emergency department by Labour Day. “We’ve heard you loud and clear, Dauphin; you need these services close to home,” the premier said. Torrential rainfall in July flooded large portions of Dauphin, including the regional health centre. The hospital suffered significant damage to its HVAC system, elevators and other critical infrastructure, and it will take months to repair and restore the hospital. Residents who need emergency care have been forced to go to the Ste. Rose Hospital or the Grandview Hospital. Kinew said the emergency services would be provided through a temporary facility while the hospital is being repaired. Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak said he was pleased to hear Kinew’s announcement. “We were told in the various meetings we’ve had that having an ER in our facility is sort of the lynchpin or the foundational piece to get other services back in the community,” he said. “Having the ER in place means that some of those other services can be brought back sooner than later, and that’s all good for our community.” Bosiak said residents who have spoken to him about travelling outside of the community for emergency care have described it as an “inconvenience.” “To not have the ER or the hospital or the services available, there’s a level of anxiety and uncertainty for a lot of folks,” he said.
