The Vice President of Finance and Planning for Southern Health says this year's provincial funding for health in our region will be maintained but adds we will benefit from a decrease in ambulance fees. 

Ken Klassen says as of April 1st we will see rates drop from $425 to $340 for ambulance rides and adds we can expect another drop in April of 2019. He notes it's a bit early to determine how the budget will affect Southern Health but for the most part, he says there doesn't seem to be any big surprises. 

"Nothing really significant for Southern Health. We have not had the chance to work through all the detailed numbers yet but it looks like funding will be maintained, perhaps a small increase for some commitments that had already been made in the past to various contracts but for the most part it’s a status-quo budget from all appearances."

Following last year's announcement for the revamp of Winnipeg's health care system in terms of trying to cut costs and improve wait times, Klassen notes we could see some changes in rural Manitoba in the near future. 

"We as Southern Health are a part of the transformational change in Manitoba’s health care system. We know that there are many things happening in the back end and we’re certainly trying to do our part by operating as efficiently as we can. There will be many more details to come in the next few months."