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Swan Valley hospital ER facing nurse shortfalls amid agency changes
Summary
The Manitoba Nurses Union and Prairie Mountain Health say the Swan River emergency department has about a 50% nurse vacancy rate; the province recently limited contracted private nursing agencies to four and is expanding a provincial travel nurse team.
Content
The emergency department at the Swan Valley Health Centre in Swan River is reported to be operating with about half the nursing staff typically required, according to the Manitoba Nurses Union and Prairie Mountain Health. The union says some shifts have had no nurses. Manitoba recently reduced the number of approved private nursing agencies contracted by the public system to four and officials report the provincial travel nurse team is being expanded. Prairie Mountain Health also confirmed a high-acuity unit in Dauphin has been temporarily suspended because of staffing pressures.
Known details:
- The union and Prairie Mountain Health report the Swan River ER has about a 50 per cent nurse vacancy rate.
- Manitoba has limited contracted private nursing agencies to four companies through a competitive process.
- The provincial travel nurse team grew from about 280 nurses in December 2024 to 555 in December 2025, according to officials.
- A four-bed special care unit in Dauphin is temporarily suspended; the Dauphin emergency department remains open.
Summary:
Staffing pressures have led to reduced nursing coverage at the Swan River emergency department and a temporary suspension of a special care unit in Dauphin. Officials say stability is expected to improve as nurses sign up with the remaining approved agencies or join the expanded provincial travel nurse team, and health authorities are working to fill shifts.
