Manitoba boosts emergency care with new social work positions

The Manitoba government is expanding social work services in emergency departments. This move will add eight new positions across four locations. Currently, only Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre has social workers in its emergency department. Social workers in emergency departments assist medical staff with safety assessments. They also provide support and care to patients in need.

The new roles will cost the government £1.2 million annually. The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals has welcomed the decision. The expansion aims to improve patient care in busy emergency and urgent care settings. The additional social workers will join teams in four emergency departments and urgent care centres. Their presence is expected to ease pressure on doctors and nurses. The initiative begins with a dedicated annual budget of £1.2 million.