SASK NDP SOUNDS ALARM ON STRING OF RURAL ER CLOSURES

The Saskatchewan NDP is raising concerns over the closure of emergency rooms in Porcupine Plain and Tisdale, which will leave rural residents without access to life-saving care when they need it most. 

The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses confirmed that both the Porcupine Plain and the Tisdale hospitals will be on ER bypass Monday.  

Residents from nearby communities, like Weekes, will face an hour-and-a-half drive to Melfort for emergency care. 

“In an emergency, every minute counts,” said Vicki Mowat, Shadow Health Minister. "When families in Weekes or on the farm have to drive past not one, but two closed emergency rooms, it’s clear that this government is taking rural Saskatchewan for granted."

“Our communities have so much to offer. We shouldn’t be ranked last place in Canada on healthcare worker recruitment and retention,” said Meara Conway, Shadow Minister for Rural and Remote Health. “We need to invest in more frontline workers and services — not more bureaucracy and middle management.” 

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Sask. Party government to get a healthcare recruitment and retention plan that actually works and stop closing rural hospitals. 

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