The family of Debbie Fewster is praising a new directive from Manitoba’s Health Minister to better improve outcomes for those who need cardiac care.
Fewster was told in August 2024 that she needed a triple bypass surgery within three weeks.
She was put on a waitlist for the surgery, but she passed away in October before she could undergo the procedure.
The tragedy led her family to call on the government to create Debbie’s Law, which would require health regions to tell patients if they wouldn’t receive surgery in the recommended time.
After hearing about what happened and then meeting with the Fewster family, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara issued a directive to make policy changes in the health system.
Those changes included improved communication with patients and their families, additional surgery slates, more staffing to ensure cardiac surgeries are being completed, as well as reporting the deaths of patients who were waiting for surgery.
“First of all, we’re pleased, very pleased with the steps taken so far with the recent directive,” said Debbie’s son, Daniel Fewster. “It’s encouraging to see prompt action on an issue that is so critical to the health and well-being of Manitobans. We’re especially encouraged that this directive focuses on the cardiac department, as this is the department our mother was directly involved with.”
Daniel said his family believes this directive could save people’s lives, calling the move a “meaningful step forward.”
“Debbie’s Law, in our view, represents a baseline standard for how health-care systems should operate – prioritize transparency, accountability and patient-centred care,” he said. “This isn’t just here in Manitoba. It’s not just in the cardiac care department, it’s across departments and provinces, and it’s been pretty troubling to hear some of the other stories people have gone through. This really highlights the urgent need that we have for systemic change within the system.”
Daniel noted there would be some changes his family would like to see to the directive, which has been communicated to Asagwara. As well, the hope is to eventually see this become legislation, which would include consequences when it is not followed and people die.
Speaking following Question Period Wednesday, Asagwara said the government’s main focus is bringing back the Cardiac Centre of Excellence, which would ensure Manitobans are getting the best possible care.
“I want to make clear, my priority as a minister is making sure systems are investing in more surgeries. That they’re spending their resources making sure there are more surgeries and more cardiac care,” said Asagwara.
The minister added the government plans to continue to work with the experts that previously built up the cardiac centre, as well as Manitoba families, to ensure best practices are being implemented, which would ultimately improve accountability.
“Cardiac care is a top priority. It is a key service here in Manitoba and for others.”
Meantime, Conservative MLA Kathleen Cook introduced a private member’s bill Wednesday, called Debbie’s Law, that mentions a number of topics that are covered in the directive but also broadens it to cover all life-saving care and also provide out-of-province options if the waitlist is too long in Manitoba.
“I think this is a non-partisan and should be a non-political bill that’s about improving health care for Manitobans,” said Cook.
