Specifically, Beck has said she will install Community Advisory Networks within 100 days of forming government, fulfilling a promise that was made but never followed through on by the Sask. Party 10 years ago.
“The people who know the healthcare needs of our communities are the people who live and work in them,” said Jared Clarke, Shadow Minister for Rural and Remote Health. “The people of Saskatchewan have a lot to offer with respect to improving our healthcare system.
“Maybe if this government spent less time jet-setting across the province and more time listening to these folks, then our healthcare system wouldn’t be crumbling.”
In 2017, the provincial government consolidated the province’s 12 regional health authorities into a single entity, creating the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). Ahead of this restructuring, an Advisory Panel cautioned that amalgamation could weaken local input and community engagement. To safeguard that connection, the legislation establishing the SHA required the creation of Community Advisory Networks within 180 days. Despite this, Moe’s government never established these networks.
The commitment from Beck’s team comes as they unveil the first phase of their big, bold healthcare plan — a blueprint shaped over months of consultation and thousands of conversations with patients, providers, and stakeholders in every corner of the province.
The first phase of the plan, which was released last week, is a four-pillar approach to providing primary care for all residents in Saskatchewan. The plan would guarantee every resident access to a primary care team based on where they live, would connect local teams with other services and specialists to expand and share capacity, expand virtual and mobile care for rural residents, and link medical records into one connected system.
“The consultation we did proves exactly why local Community Advisory Networks are so necessary,” Clarke said.
“Just a few months ago, I attended a public healthcare forum here in Moose Jaw that was hosted by local healthcare workers. Had any of the Moose Jaw MLAs or Health Ministers actually showed up, they would see how many healthcare workers want to offer their input to improve the quality of care that they provide to patients.
“The solutions we need cannot continue to be made in a vacuum, but that’s exactly how the Premier, his health Ministers, and SHA execs operate.
“Community is at the center of a thriving healthcare system, and we are determined to get back to that place. It's time for change.”
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