Manitoba health authorities are looking into a serious incident involving the death of an 82-year-old woman who spent over 30 hours in the emergency departments of Grace and St. Boniface hospitals in Winnipeg. Genevieve Price’s family reported that she initially sought care at a minor injury clinic due to a swollen hand. Clinic staff determined she needed IV antibiotics and more intensive treatment, leading to her transfer to Grace Hospital.
Upon arrival at Grace Hospital, Price was placed on a stretcher in a hallway and faced a prolonged wait, during which her condition deteriorated. She was subsequently transferred to St. Boniface Hospital where she passed away. Her daughter, Michelle Price, a nurse, expressed frustration in a social media post, stating that her mother deserved better care, emphasizing the broken healthcare system.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, responsible for both hospitals, confirmed that Price’s death is under investigation as a critical incident, involving serious unintended harm to patients within Manitoba’s healthcare system. Kerstin Jordan, the authority’s chief nursing officer, conveyed condolences to Price’s family and announced a thorough review by the patient safety team to prevent similar events in the future.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara acknowledged the tragedy during a news conference and assured that a comprehensive investigation, in addition to the critical incident review, will be conducted to prevent such occurrences. Asagwara stressed the need for improvement in the healthcare system to avoid any family going through a similar heartbreaking experience.