Contact Us

Search

Some hospitals in rural and Northern Manitoba are likely to experience ER closures or reduced hours this summer, perhaps more than ever before. 

Whether you live in a rural or Northern community, or you have plans to travel in these areas, doctors want to ensure you are aware of potential closures or reduced hours and how to find emergency or urgent care when needed. 

Be sure to plan ahead when in rural or Northern communities, and know what to do if someone needs emergency or urgent care. We’ve put together some advice below to help you.

PLAN AHEAD

With reduced ER hours and closures expected across the province, physicians want to ensure you are prepared. Below you will find advice from physicians about how to be ready, in the event you or someone around you needs urgent or emergency medical care. 

  • KNOW the closest and second closest ERs to where you live or where you will be travelling (see further information by region below).

  • FIND ER hours and schedules. Be aware that some ERs are operating on reduced hours and some may be temporarily or permanently closed. Schedules can change with little notice. Check which health region you are in or will be in, and where the regional health authority posts current information about ER hours and closures (see links below).

  • KNOW how to call for emergency care. In most parts of Manitoba, you can call 911. In some smaller communities or parks, you may have to call a local number to get an ambulance.

  • UNDERSTAND that doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health care staff are working incredibly hard to provide you or your loved ones with safe, high quality care as quickly as possible. Staffing shortages have become worse in some areas, causing closures, reduced hours and long waits for some services, including ambulances and in ERs.

WHAT TO DO IF CARE IS NEEDED

If you or someone around you needs medical care, consider the following

  • If it is an emergency, call 911 or the local emergency number. Know your location, be with the person who needs help, and know the number you are calling from. 

  • If it is urgent, go to the closest open ER or urgent care centre.

  • Consider alternate options for care in the area for non-urgent care, such as local doctors’ offices that accept walk-ins or appointments. You can also call Health Links Info Santé at 1−888−315−9257.

You can learn more from these resources:

Hospitals and ERs in Rural/​Northern Regions

This information is based on the best information available to Doctors Manitoba at the date noted below. Because closures can occur with short notice, Manitobans should seek out current information from local regional health authorities. 

In a medical emergency, call 911 or the local emergency number. 

Interlake / Eastern Manitoba

The Interlake-Eastern region has 12 hospitals, but eight ERs are expected to either have frequent suspensions in service or be closed completely. 

Key regional links:

List of communities without 911 service and local numbers to call for ambulance

Hospitals and ERs in the Region (updated June 30, 2022)

Community Hospital Name ER Status Explanation
Arborg Arborg & District Health Centre OPEN BUT SUSPENSIONS EXPECTED ER schedule is likely to vary, with frequent closures. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ER is Gimli. 
Ashern Ashern Lakeshore General Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Beausejour Beausejour Health Centre OPEN BUT SUSPENSIONS EXPECTED ER schedule is likely to vary, with frequent closures. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ERs located in Selkirk or Pinawa.
Eriksdale Eriksdale EM Crowe Memorial Hospital OPEN BUT SUSPENSIONS EXPECTED ER Schedule is likely to vary with frequent closures. Check RHA schedule. next closes ERs located in Ashern and Arborg.
Gimli Gimli Johnson Memorial Hospital OPEN BUT SUSPENSIONS POSSIBLE ER is expected to be open, but there may be occasional periods with no physician available. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ERs located in Arborg, Selkirk.
Hodgson Percy E. Moore Hospital (federal) OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Pinawa Pinawa Hospital OPEN BUT SUSPENSIONS POSSIBLE ER is expected to be open, but there may be occasional periods with no physician available. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ERs located in Beausejour, Selkirk.
Powerview/​Pine Falls Pine Falls Health Complex CLOSED Temporarily ER closed temporarily. Next closest ERs located in Pinawa, Beausejour and Selkirk.
Selkirk Selkirk Regional Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Stonewall Stonewall & District Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Teulon Teulon Hunter Memorial Hospital CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Selkirk, Stonewall or Gimli (check schedule).
Whitemouth Whitemouth District Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Pinawa (check schedule), Beausejour (check schedule).
Southern Manitoba

The Southern region has 17 hospitals, but five ERs are expected to have reduced hours and seven have been closed long-term. 

Key regional links:

Hospitals and ERs in the Region (updated June 30, 2022)

Community Hospital Name ER Status Explanation
Morden/​Winkler Boundary Trails Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Portage la Prairie Portage District General Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Steinbach Bethesda Regional Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Crystal City Rock Lake Health District OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Morris Morris General Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Altona Altona Community Memorial Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ER located at Boundary Trails near Winkler, or in Morris.
Carman Carman Memorial Hospital OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check local RHA schedule. Next closest ER located at Boundary Trails near Winkler or Notre Dame de Lourdes.
Notre Dame de Lourdes Centre de santé Notre-Dame Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check local RHA schedule. Next closest ER located in Portage La Prairie, at Boundary Trails between Winkler and Morden, or in Carman.
St. Pierre-Jolys Centre médico-social De Salaberry District Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check local RHA schedule. Next closest ERs located in Steinbach or Morris.
Ste. Anne Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check local RHA schedule. Next closest ER located in Steinbach or Winnipeg.
Emerson Emerson Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Morris or Altona.
Gladstone Gladstone Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Portage la Prairie or Neepawa.
MacGregor MacGregor Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ER is in Portage la Prairie.
Manitou Pembina Manitou Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ER is Boundary Trails between Winkler and Morden, or in Crystal City, or in Notre Dame.
St. Claude Centre de Sante St. Claude Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Notre Dame, Portage la Prairie or Carman. 
Swan Lake Lorne Memorial Hospital CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ER located in Notre Dame, Crystal City, or at Boundary Trails between Winkler and Morden.
Vita Vita & District Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest is located in Steinbach
Western Manitoba (Prairie Mountain Region)

The Prairie Mountain region of Western Manitoba has 30 hospitals, but 21 ERs are expected to have reduced hours, temporary suspensions, or be closed completely. 

Key regional links:

Hospitals and ERs in the Region (updated June 30, 2022)

Community Hospital Name ER Status Explanation
Baldur Baldur Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Glenboro (check RHA schedule) or Killarney.
Benito Benito Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ER in Swan River
Birtle Birtle Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. next closest ER located in Russell
Boissevain Boissevain Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ERs in Boissevain and Deloraine share a schedule. Check RHA schedule for hours and location.
Brandon Brandon Regional Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Carberry Carberry Plains Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ERs in Carberry and Glenboro share a schedule. Check RHA schedule for hours and location. 
Dauphin Dauphin Regional Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Deloraine Deloraine Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ERs in Boissevain and Deloraine share a schedule. Check RHA schedule for hours and location.
Erickson Erickson Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Russell or Hamiota.
Glenboro Glenboro Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ERs in Carberry and Glenboro share a schedule. Check RHA schedule for hours and location.
Grandview Grandview Health Centre OPEN BUT WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check local RHA schedule. Next closest ERs located in Dauphin or Roblin.
Hamiota Hamiota Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open, but temporary closures are possible. Check the local RHA schedule.
Killarney Tri-Lake Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
McCreary McCreary/​Alonsa Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Neepawa or Ste. Rose du Lac.
Melita Melita Health Centre CLOSED temporarily ER closed temporarily. Schedule could vary this summer with frequent closures. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ERs located in Virden, Deloraine or Souris.
Minnedosa Minnedosa Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Neepawa Neepawa Health Centre (Memorial Hospital) OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Reston Reston Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Virden or Melita (check RHA schedule).
Rivers Riverdale Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ER in Brandon
Roblin Roblin Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ERs located in Grandview, Russell or Dauphin.
Rossburn Rossburn Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ER in Russell.
Russell Russell Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Shoal Lake Shoal Lake/​Strathclair Health Centre CLOSED Temporarily ER closed temporarily. Next closest ERs located in Minnedosa or Hamiota.
Souris Souris Health Centre OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ER located in Brandon.
Ste. Rose du Lac Ste. Rose General Hospital OPEN WITH REDUCED HOURS ER is not open 24/7. Check RHA schedule. Next closest ER located in Dauphin.
Swan River Swan Valley Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Treherne Tiger Hills Health Centre CLOSED Temporarily ER closed temporarily. Next closest ERs located in Notre Dame and Glenboro (check RHA schedule).
Virden Virden Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Wawanesa Wawanesa Health Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ERs located in Souris, Brandon and Glenboro (check RHA schedule).
Winnipegosis Winnipegosis and District Heatlh Centre CLOSED long term ER closed. Next closest ER in Dauphin.
Northern Manitoba

The Northern region has 9 hospitals. As of June, no short or long-term ER closures are expected. 

Key regional links:

Hospitals and ERs in the Region (updated June 30, 2022)

Community Hospital Name ER Status Explanation
Churchill Churchill Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Flin Flon Flin Flon General Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Gillam Gillam Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Leaf Rapids Leaf Rapids Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Lynn Lake Lynn Lake Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Norway House Cree Nation Norway House Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Snow Lake Snow Lake Health Centre OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
The Pas St. Anthony’s General Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Thompson Thompson General Hospital OPEN ER is expected to be open 24/7
Our Concerns about Rural & Northern Care

Hundreds of physicians work in rural and Northern communities providing a variety of high quality medical services. However, doctors have been increasingly concerned about maintaining health care in rural and Northern areas, due primarily to shortages in physicians, nurses and other health care workers. 

Even before the pandemic, physician and staffing shortages were making it difficult to maintain services in some facilities, resulting in long waits, reduced hours, and closures. This problem has been exacerbated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s Needed?

Physicians believe a clear plan is needed to stabilize health care in rural and Northern communities. Over the next few months, we will be consulting with physicians and other partners to compile evidence-based advice focused on improve the recruitment and retention of physicians in these communities. 

Last updated
June 30, 2022