Manitoba Government Expands Social Work Services in Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres

Press Release

June 17, 2026

New Positions Will Support Patients, Families and Front-Line Health-Care Workers: Asagwara

The Manitoba government is expanding social work services in emergency departments and urgent care centres, including new positions at St. Boniface Hospital, Seven Oaks General Hospital, Concordia Hospital and Victoria Hospital, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“When front-line health-care workers tell us what they need to better support patients, we take action,” said Asagwara. “Social workers bring specialized expertise in mental health, crisis intervention and connecting people with community supports. They play a critical role in helping patients navigate complex challenges while allowing nurses, physicians and other health-care professionals to focus on delivering medical care. We’re putting more of them where they’re needed.”

The new positions respond to feedback from front-line health-care workers who identified the need for additional support connecting patients with community services after leaving hospital. Social workers will work as part of emergency departments and urgent care teams and collaborate with community organizations and service providers to help patients access supports they need in the community. Two social workers have already been hired and will begin work in the coming weeks.

By supporting discharge planning and helping patients access community services sooner, social workers can help reduce pressure on emergency departments and support efforts to improve wait times and patient care, the minister noted.

“Social workers in a hospital setting offer a unique psychosocial lens through which more comprehensive care can be provided,” said Linda Rost, social worker, adult emergency department, Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Winnipeg. “We complete risk and safety assessments, help patients and families navigate resources, and provide supportive care during crisis. Other integral community services operate 24-7, so it has been a great step forward for social work to be among those available services, both to provide our own expertise when it is needed as well as to be an important link to those resources. The support from the Manitoba government in ensuring social work services are available to Manitobans whenever they need them is critical to ensuring patients receive the right care, from the right provider, when they need it most.”

Social work coverage was expanded to 24-7 in 2023 at the HSC Winnipeg emergency department. The positions announced today will ensure patients at more Winnipeg hospitals have access to these services, strengthening emergency department teams and supporting patients and families through the next steps in their care.

“Helping patients access the right supports at the right time is critical to improving access to care across our health-care system,” said Jane Curtis, interim president and CEO, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. “Social workers play an important role in supporting discharge planning, connecting people with community resources and helping patients transition safely back into the community. These additional positions will strengthen emergency department teams while supporting patient flow and ongoing efforts to improve access to care.”

The new positions are part of the Manitoba government’s ongoing work to strengthen health-care teams, support front-line health-care workers and improve patient care, the minister noted.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

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