Winnipeg Construction IX

[Wolf13]

Trim the fat!

Originally Posted by rrskylar

I think the govt. is putting a halt on everything to properly assess where and what health care dollars are going to. Right now there is a lot of redundancy.

Originally Posted by trueviking

^that's what they want you to believe anyways....

Well, inefficiencies and redundancies have been the name of our health care game as a nation, and even more so as a province, for quite some time.

I'd like to think of this as an absolutely necessary move, because it seems like a very media unfriendly decision.

[biguc]

A second term is entirely dependent on a viable alternative emerging. The NDP is far from getting their act together and the Liberals proved themselves hopeless last time out. That said, 3 years is a long time, which is something Pallister is counting on. Cut to the bone now and people will be over it by next election. He could easily win a second term if he can cut the PST back to 7% and get infrastructure spending rolling again. With a carbon tax inevitably coming down the pipe, he should be able to do both with ease.

[bomberjet]

It's possible of course. I don't think Pallister will get anything done besides cuts. Just my opinion.

On HealthCare redundancies, whatever you want to call it. The system worked extremely well for my family last week. Saved a life when the emergency system worked as it was supposed to. They actually skipped emergency and went straight to the OR. Parameds were talking to the doc's in the ambulance, all that —. NDP must've done something right.

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

It's possible of course. I don't think Pallister will get anything done besides cuts. Just my opinion.

On HealthCare redundancies, whatever you want to call it. The system worked extremely well for my family last week. Saved a life when the emergency system worked as it was supposed to. They actually skipped emergency and went straight to the OR. Parameds were talking to the doc's in the ambulance, all that —. NDP must've done something right.

First off, fantastic news that all is well

However, and I don't want to sound insensitive to your situation by accident, but that above is doctors and professionals doing their job. I wouldn't give the NDP any credit compared to the years of schooling and experience from front line professionals involved in your situation.

The inefficiencies are clearer in non-emergencies, however. When it's an emergency, it's go, go go, save the that life!

But I gotta be clear, don't let my cynicism for the system take away from the good news that your family is doing well and taken good care of! That's what matters most!

[bomberjet]

haha thanks. No worries. You're right though. My point was at least the system wasn't clogged up with him needing to go to emerg, assessing him, etc.

Father had a heart attack and every minute matters. Doctors said the biggest thing was calling the ambulance and not taking him into hospital by car. That saved both his heart and his life. It's not clear cut when someones having a heart attack, especially if they've been flu like under the weather. Call that ambulance. Anyways, off topic.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

The inefficiencies are clearer in non-emergencies, however. When it's an emergency, it's go, go go, save the that life!

This is very true. Say what you will about healthcare in this country, but if it is something that is clearly needed quickly you get it quickly.

[1ajs]

if u come in on a ambulance as possible heart attack or stroke or other searious u get bumped to the front if u walk in its hit and miss of w will happen.

and if were guna get rid of or's at the other hospital staff the big hospitals better then cause this having to wait bs is stupid and no reason also someone needs to put a stop to limiting the number of docotors graduating thats stupid having a cap on that

[CoryB]

If Winnipeg goes from six ERs to three as is reportedly been considered which neighbourhoods get the added 10 minute+ ambulance ride to the nearest remaining ER? Seven Oaks to HSC, Grace to HSC, Victoria to ST B and Concordia to St B are all pretty long drives when your heart isn't working or you aren't breathing.

[bomberjet]

They took my dad from Transcona straight to St. B, which is the heart centre of the Province. Trauma goes straight to HSC. The other ER's take in less urgent ER stuff, from my understanding. So I think it's already kind of like that.

[StNorberter]

Originally Posted by biguc

A second term is entirely dependent on a viable alternative emerging. The NDP is far from getting their act together and the Liberals proved themselves hopeless last time out. That said, 3 years is a long time, which is something Pallister is counting on. Cut to the bone now and people will be over it by next election. He could easily win a second term if he can cut the PST back to 7% and get infrastructure spending rolling again. With a carbon tax inevitably coming down the pipe, he should be able to do both with ease.

The problem is that the PCs don't know how to do anything but cut. Just like the NDP don't know how to do anything but spend. I had hoped that there might be some rational thought employed in this new government, but instead of a proper evaluation, I guess it's easier to make sweeping cuts.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by StNorberter

The problem is that the PCs don't know how to do anything but cut. Just like the NDP don't know how to do anything but spend. I had hoped that there might be some rational thought employed in this new government, but instead of a proper evaluation, I guess it's easier to make sweeping cuts.

It would be nice if there was some moderation between decade-plus binge-purge stints of spending like drunken sailors and then cancelling/cutting back everything as insolvency starts looming off in the distance.

Bulimia politics... I think I just coined a phrase.

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by StNorberter

The problem is that the PCs don't know how to do anything but cut. Just like the NDP don't know how to do anything but spend. I had hoped that there might be some rational thought employed in this new government, but instead of a proper evaluation, I guess it's easier to make sweeping cuts.

My default position is that conservatives inherently know more than the NDP or Liberal parties besides "cutting"... because they are more likely to have a background in private enterprise. I can't validate this with hard figures, but the other parties have more career politicians/activists, compared to the conservatives who have more former business professionals. By default, they know how to affect the marketplace in a positive way moreso than the libs/dips.

The exception perhaps might be lawyers, but they just twist the law to suit their interests anyway.


Regardless, I feel comfortable to assert that the PCs are easily more capable. No doubt.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

They took my dad from Transcona straight to St. B, which is the heart centre of the Province. Trauma goes straight to HSC. The other ER's take in less urgent ER stuff, from my understanding. So I think it's already kind of like that.

All heart cases don't go direct to St B or HSC. It depends on the state of the patient, the training of the ambulance, the type of gear/medicine they have on board, the availability of staff/beds at the receiving hospital, etc.

You also get diversions happening where an ER is closed to anyone except heart attacks, strokes, etc. even those coming by ambulance.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by CoryB

All heart cases don't go direct to St B or HSC. It depends on the state of the patient, the training of the ambulance, the type of gear/medicine they have on board, the availability of staff/beds at the receiving hospital, etc.

You also get diversions happening where an ER is closed to anyone except heart attacks, strokes, etc. even those coming by ambulance.

Good to know. Thanks. The parameds pumped my dad full of all kinds of stuff in the ambulance. Including....gasp......fentanyl. They gave him the maximum legal dose. He was messed right up.

[cllew]

As an interesting side note, St. B if they are expecting a helicopter patient has in its receiving plan to access the City of Winnipeg insect control helo pad on Grey St South of the Narin Ave McDonalds and transfer the patient by Ambulance.

I am not sure if they have ever has to use this procedure as most (if not all) Helo patients use to come to HSC via the airport and now use the roof top pad.

The helo pad for Seven Oakes was closed down after the Pope's visit to Manitoba as it required upgrades which could not get budget funding. I think the only reminder of the pad are the 2 candy stripe warning paint on light standards on Court St.

[Cyro]

Wish your dad all the best in his recovery BJ.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cllew

The helo pad for Seven Oakes was closed down after the Pope's visit to Manitoba as it required upgrades which could not get budget funding. I think the only reminder of the pad are the 2 candy stripe warning paint on light standards on Court St.

Interesting... and strange, considering that the hospital couldn't have been much more than about 10 years old at the time. I wonder why they'd go to the trouble of installing a helipad at SOGH and then letting it fall into disuse so quickly.

[cllew]

I can only think that it was not used enough to justify spending money on to upgrade it.

[Cyro]

Several pages of the ongoing Political discussion moved from Construction to the

The Manitoba Provincial Politics Discussion Thread.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by cllew

As an interesting side note, St. B if they are expecting a helicopter patient has in its receiving plan to access the City of Winnipeg insect control helo pad on Grey St South of the Narin Ave McDonalds and transfer the patient by Ambulance.

Interesting as this would suggest a plan in place if the HSC helo pad needed to be taken out of service for some reason.

Originally Posted by cllew

The helo pad for Seven Oakes was closed down after the Pope's visit to Manitoba as it required upgrades which could not get budget funding. I think the only reminder of the pad are the 2 candy stripe warning paint on light standards on Court St.

There is likely more of the elements left behind. I assume a rooftop helo pad needs additional reinforcement and other items. If the long term plan is to have three helo pad equipped hospitals in Winnipeg there might be a case to rehab what is left at Seven Oaks over a net new pad at a different community hospital. That said the proximity of Seven Oaks to St Andrews Airport could be a negative (or a positive) as that + an ambulance could be used as an alternate site.