Staffing is a priority for the Northern Health Region.

That’s what CEO Helga Bryant told attendees at the AGM earlier this week.

Bryant explains being an employer of choice is a challenge when dealing with a vacancy rate of up to 40 per cent depending on the area, and that the NRHA is working to fill those vacancies and recruit in northern Manitoba.

She also outlined how COVID-19 resulted into some changes in how some healthcare services are delivered, pointing to the advantages of virtual care, the use of primary care centres reducing the need for ER visits, and Shared Health being aware of the challenges facing the north.

Bryant went on to praise staff at hospitals in the region in handling the challenges with the number of patients.