Many workers were laid off following the Sask. Party’s decision to privatize laundry services in the health sector, and since then, stories have come to the surface about laundry coming back to healthcare centres soiled. Most recently, a discarded shank has shown up in the sheets delivered to a seniors’ facility.
“The Sask. Party didn’t seem too concerned when they shut down Saskatchewan’s five publicly owned hospital laundry facilities and sent the contract off to an Alberta company, but these complaints should change their tune,” said Seniors Critic Danielle Chartier. “No family should have to worry about their loved one not receiving properly cleaned and inspected laundry when they’re in the care of the health authority.”
Chartier said she has heard many stories of soiled and dirty laundry being sent to the province’s health facilities, and even obtained an incident report from a long-term care home in Melville that depicted a makeshift shank being found in cleaned sheets.
Former laundry staff have also spoken out about their concerns of diminished quality of service.
“Safety and quality of care should come foremost when delivering healthcare,” Chartier said. “When dirty and unsafe laundry is being delivered for use, that means the Sask. Party has dropped the ball. These incidents point to the failure of this government’s privatization agenda.”
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REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
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Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.