Women Deserve Better: The Crisis in Acute Health Care for Women in Our Region

May 28

IIn our health region, women’s acute health care needs are facing a crisis—one that is both heartbreaking and preventable. Women seeking care for urgent reproductive health issues, such as miscarriages, are being met with delays, inadequate resources, and a lack of comprehensive support. This systemic failure is leaving women to navigate not only their physical health challenges but also the emotional, social, and financial burdens without adequate assistance. It’s time to call attention to this crisis and demand better for women.

The Current Reality

Emergency Rooms in Crisis

Women are also traveling over three hours to access care at our hospital, the Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC), which serves a massive catchment area. This added strain compounds the challenges, as these long journeys often exacerbate both the physical and emotional toll of seeking urgent care.

Our region's emergency departments are grappling with critical staffing shortages and systemic strain. This crisis impacts everyone but has particularly harmful effects on women seeking urgent reproductive care. Long waits, inadequate support, and rushed care are direct results of this strained system.

1. Unacceptable Wait Times

It is important to note that these delays are no fault of the dedicated individuals staffing the emergency department. Emergencies such as motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), code blues, stroke protocols, or acutely unstable patients naturally take priority over a woman in bed 10 suffering from a miscarriage. However, the systemic lack of resources means women in these situations are left waiting far too long.

Women experiencing miscarriage-related complications are sitting in emergency departments for over eight hours waiting for critical procedures like dilation and curettage (D&C) following failed medication treatments. These prolonged waits not only delay care but also exacerbate physical and emotional distress.

2. Discharged Without Support

Many women are being sent home after receiving a potential miscarriage diagnosis with no education, no follow-up, and no plan for next steps. They’re left to cope alone with a situation that requires not just medical intervention but also emotional care and understanding.

3. Empty Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments

The obstetrics and gynecology department in our region is severely understaffed, if not entirely empty. This systemic lack of resources forces emergency departments to shoulder the burden, but they often lack the specialized expertise and capacity to provide the level of care women need during such critical moments.

The Gaps in Care

Physical Health Needs

The current system addresses only the immediate physical health needs of women in acute care situations. Even here, the care is often delayed or incomplete due to a lack of resources, specialists, and systemic planning.

Emotional Health Needs

Miscarriages are deeply emotional experiences. Yet, in our region, the emotional toll is not addressed. Women are sent home without counseling, mental health support, or even basic acknowledgment of the grief they’re experiencing. This leaves many to struggle silently with feelings of isolation, sadness, or even trauma.

Social and Financial Impact

The social and financial impact of these experiences is also overlooked. Women may face challenges returning to work, accessing childcare, or managing household responsibilities while recovering physically and emotionally. The financial burden of additional medication, follow-up care, or missed work further compounds the crisis.