Safer care doesn’t happen by chance. It requires collective responsibility, courageous conversations, and systems that make space for every voice. Whether you deliver care, support a loved one, lead a team, or shape policy, your voice matters.

This year, we are putting a spotlight on Manitoba’s It’s Safe to Ask resource. This resource can be used by patients, clients, residents and their families to learn more about their health and fully participate in their plan of care.

For more information and resources, click here: It’s Safe to Ask

Health Care Support Workers Week is October 20 – 24! Join us in celebrating the incredible individuals who make a real difference in the lives of those we serve every day. From providing hands-on care and maintaining safe, welcoming environments to ensuring our facilities run smoothly, your work is essential to the health and well-being of our communities.

Your dedication, compassion, and commitment are truly the heart of our health system – thank you for all that you do.

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Health care support workers ensure the comfort, safety, and well-being of patients and residents.
Your efforts in roles such as:

• Health Care Aides
• Dietary & Housekeeping
• Staff Maintenance & Laundry TeamsAnd many other essential support positions build the foundation of our health system.

THANK YOU

Your compassion, professionalism, and commitment strengthen our teams, uplift our clients, and support our communities. We appreciate everything you do. Today and every day.

Important Notice re: Resumption of Canada Post services for non-urgent items only

Manitoba’s health system continues to monitor the ongoing Canada Post labour situation.

On Thursday, Oct. 9, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced plans to move from a nationwide strike to rotating strikes effective Saturday, Oct. 11.

While we assess how this impacts service in Manitoba, effective Wednesday, Oct. 15, the provincial health system will resume using Canada Post for non-urgent items only.

Clinics and service areas may resume the use of Canada Post for distribution of patient appointment letters and pre-appointment information that is NOT considered to be urgent or time sensitive.

Staff sending packages and supplies to patients and urgent appointment letters will continue to use previously determined contingency plans.

Patients with upcoming clinic appointments at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg may continue to receive their appointment confirmation by text message. The text messages, which will originate from a Manitoba 431 phone number, will not include patient information and will only identify the facility, date and time of the scheduled appointment. Messages will include the clinic phone number in the event patients wish to confirm their appointment by phone.

Patients will never be asked to disclose financial information over the phone or via email. Do not engage with anyone who says they require financial information before a health appointment. If patients have questions about the legitimacy of a call, they are encouraged to contact their clinic or care provider directly.

We anticipate clinics will continue to experience a higher-than-normal volume of calls and appreciate your patience during this time.

For more information about health system operations during a Canada Post labour disruption, please visit: Canada Post Service Disruption Information – Shared Health. We also encourage the public to follow Shared Health’s social media channels for program-specific updates and information.

The main entrance at St. Anthony’s Hospital in The Pas will be temporarily closed effective October 20, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. until October 22 at 7:00 a.m. This is the result of necessary facility repair.

During this temporary closure of the main entrance, all users are required to use the door on the North Side of the building. This entrance is adjacent to the main parking lot.

The Lynn Lake Clinic reopens Oct 6, 2025. For virtual appointments, call 204-356-2474
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:45 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.

Following news that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has issued a national strike effective immediately, Manitoba’s health system stands prepared for this service disruption.

As a result of the strike, all staff and clinics have ceased use of Canada Post until further notice. This includes the distribution of patient supplies, notably for clients in the Manitoba Ostomy and Manitoba Home Nutrition Program, patient appointment letters and pre-appointment information.

Patients with upcoming appointments will instead be contacted by phone and/or email and provided with information in advance of their appointments.

Patients with upcoming clinic appointments at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg may receive their appointment confirmation by text message. The text messages, which will originate from a Manitoba 431 phone number, will not include patient information and will only identify the facility, date and time of the scheduled appointment. Messages will include the clinic phone number in the event patients wish to confirm their appointment by phone.

Patients will never be asked to disclose financial information over the phone or via email. Do not engage with anyone who says they require financial information before a health appointment. If patients have questions about the legitimacy of a call, they are encouraged to contact their clinic or care provider directly.

Information packages, facility maps and other important information that is generally sent by mail to patients and clients will be located on regional and/or facility websites for easy patient access.

If you experience a change in condition, need to change or cancel your appointment, or have questions about an upcoming visit, please contact your clinic or primary care provider.

We anticipate clinics will be experiencing a higher-than-normal volume of calls and appreciate your patience during this time.

For more information about health system operations during a Canada Post labour disruption, please visit: Canada Post Service Disruption Information – Shared Health. We also encourage the public to follow Shared Health’s social media channels for program-specific updates and information.

The BreastCheck mobile clinic is on the move and we have dates for Flin Flon, Cross Lake and Norway House!

• Flin Flon Primary Health Care Centre, 1 North Avenue  – October 3 – 22, 2025
• Cross Lake Health Centre, Northmart- 176 Northern Store – October 14-16, 2025
• Norway House Health Centre, 402050 Walter and Margaret Road – October 17-21, 2025

Don’t miss your chance for a mammogram screening.  Call 1-855-952-4325 to book an appointment or visit our website to learn more:

cancercare.mb.ca/breastcheck.

This September 22-26, the Northern Health Region honours Truth and Reconciliation Week, leading into September 30 – The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We pause to remember the children who never returned home, the Survivors of residential schools, and the families and communities who continue to live with the impacts of colonialism and system racism.

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey. Guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, we are committed to

building a health system that is safe, respectful, inclusive, and free from racism.

We invite everyone to wear orange on September 30, to listen, learn, and take action together toward a healthier and more equitable North.

World Patient Safety Day – Safe Care for every Newborn and Child

World Patient Safety Day is an opportunity to raise public awareness and foster collaboration between patients, health workers, policymakers and health care leaders to improve patient safety.
This year, the theme is “Safe care for every newborn and every child”, with the slogan “Patient safety from the start!”, recognizing the vulnerability of this age group to risks and harm caused by unsafe care.

Ensuring safe care for patients is a fundamental priority, yet newborns and children remain especially vulnerable to patient safety risks. Although the reported incidence of adverse events in newborns and children receiving medical care varies, studies suggest that adverse events occur across all care settings, with higher risks in intensive care units. To bring attention to this critical issue, ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child’ has been selected as the theme for World Patient Safety Day 2025, emphasizing the need for stronger measures to protect children from preventable harm in health care.

World Patient Safety Day 2025 aims to drive meaningful improvements and reaffirm every child’s right to safe and quality care

For more information, please visit the WHO World Patient Safety Day 2025 event page.

The Leaf Rapids Health Centre will reopen on Thursday, September 11th at 9:00 a.m.