Wadena, Wynyard ER closures show recruitment failure
“In the midst of a hot summer, Wynyard and Wadena are busy with commercial and agricultural operations along with summer events and activities,” said Cam Broten, NDP health critic. “Emergency services are critical for the health and safety of families, workers and summer travellers in the region.”
The number of physician vacancies province-wide has risen to 125, up from 84 in 2007. As a result, the NDP has learned that both emergency departments will be closing and acute care beds in Wadena are being converted to long-term and palliative care beds.
According to New Democrats, the closures result from the fact that the Sask. Party government has its priorities wrong.
“The people of Wynyard and Wadena need more health care professionals, not three more MLAs,” said Broten. “If the government put as much effort into recruiting professionals as they did pushing through their plan to spend millions of dollars on more politicians, communities wouldn’t be facing this problem.”
The NDP said that a smart-growth strategy would prioritize health care and other basic needs.
“It’s a government’s job to properly manage growth and change,” said Broten. “The Sask. Party has failed to proactively address health care to stay one-step ahead of change, choosing instead to prioritize politicians over people.”
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