On Monday, CUPE 5430, which represents more than 14,000 healthcare workers across Saskatchewan, said in a news release the policy “was rolled out without any consultation or feedback from frontline healthcare workers.
President Bashir Jalloh added, “this policy creates the illusion of access to care while putting patients at risk.”
The new policy would force an emergency room to stay open even if just one registered nurse is onsite. That nurse could be responsible for direct patient care of multiple people, testing, consulting physicians online and running other parts of a hospital, such as long-term care, by themselves.
“This Sask. Party policy is horrific, and it completely blindsided healthcare workers who will be left to fend for themselves on the frontlines of overrun hospitals,” said Jared Clarke, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Rural & Remote Health.
“On behalf of healthcare workers across Saskatchewan, we are calling on Premier Scott Moe to step in right and put a stop to this before someone gets seriously hurt or worse.
“After 18 years of the Sask. Party, rural healthcare in the province is the worst it’s ever been. Saskatchewan is the birthplace of Medicare — we deserve better.
“The Saskatchewan NDP is going to keep fighting for healthcare and, when we form the next government, we will deliver the big, bold change that is needed to get us out of last place.”
Despite the ridiculous policy, six rural Saskatchewan emergency rooms were still reported online as being closed Sunday in Canora, Herbert, Kamsack, Kipling, Wilkie and Wolseley.
-30-