Taking a political pulse on our ailing health care system

If you go to a Winnipeg emergency room with a medical emergency, chances are you'll wait longer for treatment than anywhere else in the country.

If you go to a rural Manitoba ER with a medical emergency, there might not be a doctor on staff.

So, what will our next government do to improve our health care prognosis?

We'll find out this Wednesday, when Information Radio 89.3 FM goes live on-location at the Subway restaurant right across the street from Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre.

We'll meet candidates from the four main parties and hear what they would do to meet our medical needs, if they're elected into office.

We'll also hear from stakeholders who've their own concerns about healthcare.

Meet Gwen Traverse — health director, Pinaymootang Health Centre

She and her team of nurses in Fairford, Man., struggle with area hospitals closing ERs and diverting patients to hospitals further away.

The most recent case? A three-month-old infant who'd stopped breathing.

Nurses performed CPR for a full hour while waiting for an ambulance.

"We couldn't give up. Non-stop for a full hour. It was heartbreaking for them," she said.

Once the ambulance arrived, it bypassed two hospitals because their emergency rooms were closed, despite the fact there were doctors available.

"We were absolutely floored when we found out. We had no idea they'd do that," she said.

That's because health care on First Nations is run by the federal government. Off reserve it's a provincial matter.

"So once the ambulance left, it was out of my control."

It's still unclear why the ERs were closed when there were doctors available — especially when it meant an extra hour's drive to the next hospital.

The baby died; the case is under investigation.

"It breaks my heart knowing we didn't give this child a chance. The system's failing us," she said.

Traverse thinks part of what went wrong was a communication barrier between hospital ERs, ambulance attendants and First Nations health centres.

Her question to the candidates?

"I want them to address these jurisdictional issues between the province, Health Canada and First Nations," she said. "What is their code of ethics when it comes to a life and death situation?" 

Meet Keith Lundale — Councillor for the rural municipality of West Interlake

Lundale spends much of his time advocating for better ER service in the region.

He says they're short at least 50 doctors, meaning ERs are either nurse-managed or closed altogether.

And when doctors do sign on for the job, they're usually gone after the first four years.

"We have a revolving door of practitioners around here," he said.

He cites a long list of "close-calls" among friends and family, who've been diverted to hospitals hours away, because of closed ERs closer to home.

"One lady, in septic shock, picked up in Lundar, wanted to go to Eriksdale, but diverted to Stonewall, then sent to Arborg."

His question to the candidates?

"What is your plan to address the shortage of doctors in rural practice?"

Meet Donna Faryon and Lori Greenberg Sisters

Their mother went to a Winnipeg ER suffering from an undiagnosed kidney stone.

There was a CT scanner on site, but no one to operate it. Instead, she was sent home.

The next day, her family found her so ill she was "incoherent." They called an ambulance. She was taken back to the same ER.

Still, there was no one available to conduct a CT scan. Family begged staff to divert her to a different hospital to access one.

"But we kept being told she's getting the best care possible."

Days later, she was finally transferred, but it was too late. Her organs were already failing. 

The case was later declared a critical incident. 

The family says they were told a patient advocate would be created to prevent further deaths. Now it is an NDP election promise.

But nothing was promised to address the difference in care between the two hospitals.

Their question to the candidates?

"What will you do to make sure all emergency rooms are created equal?"

These are just some of the stakeholders we'll hear from on CBC Information Radio 89.3 FM Wednesday morning.

And we want you to join us, too! Drop in, have a coffee or breakfast bite and tell us what you want from our next government when it comes to your health care.

That's Information Radio 89.3 FM with host Marcy Markusa, live on-location Wednesday morning at the Subway sandwich shop, 653 William Ave. in Winnipeg.