WELCOME TO ST. BONIFACE HOSPITAL
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We will remain OPEN TO THE PUBLIC during any work stoppage.
Health system employers remain committed to bargaining with unions in the hope of reaching an agreement and avoiding system disruption, but should an agreement not be reached, a strike could begin as soon as 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Here is what you need to know:
What to expect
During a work stoppage we expect there will be striking workers present on a picket line.
Although no one attending to the hospital can be prevented from entering by picketers, it is reasonable to expect some delay in parking and getting to entrances.
We encourage patients with appointments to arrive earlier than they normally would.
We also encourage staff to arrive earlier than usual for the shift.
While employees have the right to picket, you also have the right to access the facility and can do so. If you encounter picketers when entering the facility, please know that while they are legally allowed to communicate information about the strike they cannot impede or otherwise hinder your right to enter.
Hospital staff members providing you with patient care should not be bringing up the strike proactively with you while you are in their care. If you choose to bring it up yourself, they may or may not agree to speak with you about it. The focus of your communication both ways should remain your care.
ACCESS TO ST. BONIFACE HOSPITAL
Entrances
Our facility will remain OPEN to the public throughout a work stoppage, although as of 6 am on Oct. 8, access will be restricted to the following entrances:
- The main entrance, located at 409 Taché Ave.
- Entrance hours 6 am to 9 pm; 7 days/week. Staff can use swipe cards here after hours but the public must be buzzed in.
- The Forgan south entrance, located at ground level below the Emergency department driveway.
- Entrance hours 6:30 am to 8:30 pm M-F; 2 pm to 8:30 pm weekends. Staff can use swipe cards here after hours but the public must be buzzed in.
- Emergency Department entrance, located on the first floor at the south end of the hospital, remains open 24/7 for emergency patients and their support people only. You cannot use this entrance to access the rest of the campus.
- McEwen Centre entrance remains open to the public only. Staff will not be able to use this entrance.
- Entrance hours 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, 7 days/week
- Sakharov MRI Centre entrance remains open to the public only. Staff will not be able to use this entrance.
- Entrance hours 7 am to 11:45 pm M-F; 7 am to 10:30 pm weekends.
- Albrechtsen Research Centre entrance remains open for researchers and research study participants only. You cannot use this entrance to access the rest of the campus.
- The B block ramp remains open for Stretcher Service and dialysis patients only. Staff will not be able to use this entrance.
- The public entrance to the Asper Institute will be closed to both staff and the public. You must use the main entrance or Forgan south entrance instead, then follow the signs via the tunnels to access the Asper Institute.
We apologize for the inconvenience and we appreciate your understanding.
For a campus map, please click here
Emergency access
Our Emergency Department remains open to the public 24/7 as per usual.
The Emergency Department entrance, located on the first floor at the south end of the hospital, remains open 24/7 for emergency patients and their support people only. You cannot use this entrance to access the rest of the campus.
Rest assured that ambulances will still be accessing the hospital unimpeded as per usual, and are not to be delayed by picketing activities, by mutual agreement with the striking union.
For a campus map, please click here
Parking
All our public parking lots remain open and accessible to the public, as per usual.
For more information on parking rates and locations, click here
Drop-off areas
Patients, visitors, staff, and anyone else may be dropped off at the main entrance or Forgan south entrance, although drivers may experience some limited delay from picketing on their way in and out of these areas. Emergency patients and emergency support people only may be dropped off at the west end of the Emergency Department driveway, without delay. You cannot drop people off in this area to access the rest of the campus.
People can also be dropped off near the West Block buildings (Asper Institute, McEwen Centre, Sakharov MRI Centre and Albrechtsen Research Centre), although the Asper entrance will be closed to the public and inaccessible during a work stoppage (see “Entrances” section above for more detail).
For a campus map, please click here
Deliveries
Our various loading docks remain open as per usual, and delivery drivers should head for their normal shipping/receiving areas. Drivers may experience some limited delay accessing the site due to picketing activities, but picketers are not allowed to prevent delivery drivers from coming through.
Ambulances
Rest assured that ambulances will still be accessing the site unimpeded as per usual, and are not to be delayed by picketing activities.
ED construction continues
We anticipate that our Emergency Department construction project will continue throughout any work stoppage. There continues to be some disruption due to this project. Note that the west curb lane on Taché Avenue has now re-opened.
For more information and updates about this project, please click here
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HOSPITAL OPERATIONS DURING A WORK STOPPAGE
Essential Services
St. Boniface Hospital remains open to the public even during a work stoppage.
Patient care will continue and you can expect professional, appropriate care.
Patient safety is our top priority, and we have plans in place to ensure patient safety is not compromised. with patient care and operational support being provided by a combination of:
- unionized staff who are members of non-striking unions;
- non-unionized staff;
- physicians;
- volunteers;
- students from fields whose unions are not on strike; and
- essential services workers
Essential services workers include staff from the striking union, who on a rotating basis are required to work some shifts despite the strike, in order for patient care to continue.
What is an essential service?
Essential services are defined by the Essential Services Act and include “a service, duty or function that is necessary to enable an employer to prevent or limit:
(a) loss of life;
(b) serious harm or damage to, or deterioration of, the mental or physical health of one or more persons; or
(c) serious harm or damage to, or deterioration of, property required in the performance of an essential service.”
Visiting a patient
Visiting hours are unchanged and will continue throughout any work stoppage.
Patients have a right to visitors and visitors have a right to attend to the hospital to visit with their loved ones.
Family members and friends of our patients are encouraged to visit throughout any work stoppage. Your help during this time would be appreciated.
Please check with the care team on the unit with respect to how many visitors a patient can have at any one time, and ask about any restrictions such as isolation or outbreaks that may restrict visitors on a particular unit or to an individual patient.
What’s open and what’s closed
Although some services will be reduced and some non-emergency appointments may be postponed or changed, the hospital continues to serve patients and is largely open throughout a work stoppage.
Has my appointment been canceled? How will I know?
Patients whose appointments will be changed or postponed can expect to be contacted directly (usually by phone) and notified of the change. If you do not hear anything about your appointment, assume it is on.
Questions
If you have questions about accessing services, visiting, or any other questions about coming to the hospital during a work stoppage, please contact our main switchboard at 204-233-8563.
How will we let people know when the strike is over?
Once a strike is over, we will place a notice on our website.
The end of a strike will also very likely be widely reported in local media.
INTERACTING WITH THE PICKET LINE
Picketers
Picketers can be present on public property, but cannot block the entryways, intimidate, or otherwise unlawfully interfere with other individuals (employees, patients, suppliers, etc.) entering or exiting the building.
If you encounter picketers when entering the hospital, keep in mind they are legally allowed to communicate information about the strike but they cannot impede or otherwise hinder your right to enter.
Media
There will likely be media coverage of a strike, and there may be reporters and cameras present along the picket lines.
Please know that the Personal Health Information Act protects your privacy as a patient, and media are advised not to be on hospital property, including inside or on our grounds, without the hospital’s permission. We will advise media present onsite to stay on public property off the hospital grounds, and to ensure they do not capture images of patients coming or going from the hospital.
Media may approach people on public property off hospital grounds. If approached by media, it is up to you as a private citizen whether you agree to speak with them and/or have your photo taken or video recorded of you. You have every right to say no, but you can also agree to speak with media if you so choose.
How to report an incident involving picketers
If you encounter an incident on the picket line that you feel may be in violation of any of the above protocols, please contact our SBH security services at 204-237-2205.
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St. Boniface Hospital
St. Boniface Hospital has been providing leadership in health care on behalf of Manitobans since it was first established by the Grey Nuns in 1871.
The Everett Atrium serves as the main entrance for St. Boniface Hospital, located at 409 Taché Avenue.
A public space, it includes the main Inquiry Desk, several retail services available to patients, visitors, and staff , and leads to the Buhler Gallery, an art gallery open to all.
We invite patients and visitors to ask the staff at the Main Information Desk for directions and wayfinding.