While rural hospital services are being cut, hospitals in both the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region and Saskatoon Health Region are continuously being stretched to their limits and the Sask. Party is offering no solution in sight.
“This is a huge problem for patients in Regina, Saskatoon and surrounding areas,” said NDP Health Critic Danielle Chartier. “Without a bed, patients aren’t getting the proper care and attention they need to get healthy and move out of the health care system; the problem compounds and frontline health workers are run off their feet.”
Currently there are 67 overcapacity beds between the Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital. Meanwhile, the Regina Hospital is at 100 per cent capacity and the Regina Pasqua Hospital is at over 100 per cent.
Chartier noted that the DUBE centre in Saskatoon – which is a critically important acute service centre for mental health patients – is also over capacity. People needing urgent help are waiting too long in the emergency room instead of getting the appropriate care they need.
“The Sask. Party just doesn’t understand that hallway medicine and long waits for care won’t work for Saskatchewan patients,” Chartier said. “This has been a longstanding issue with this government but still, we see little in their budget to help address the situation.”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
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.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
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.