SASK. PARTY CLOSING HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN WEST-CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN

SASK. NDP CALLS OUT LOCAL SASK. PARTY MLAS FOR FAILING TO DELIVER CHANGE

The Sask. Party government’s failure to recruit and retain healthcare workers in west-central Saskatchewan is leading to devastating service closures, putting patient safety at risk.

“The people of Saskatchewan, their health and well-being, are being taken for granted by this Sask. Party government,” said Vicki Mowat, Shadow Minister for Health. “The longer the Sask. Party is in power, the further our friends and family will have to drive for basic healthcare.”

In Lloydminster, patients needing emergency care are being turned away due to CT scan closures. One man involved in a car accident was rerouted to North Battleford, where the CT scanner was also closed that day. He tragically died before receiving care.

Emergency services at the Wilkie and District Health Centre have now been closed for over three years.

In Kerrobert, local ambulance services are spotty due to EMS staffing shortages. Even as resources are being pulled in from Kindersley, Unity, and even Alberta, wait times are rising, putting lives at risk.

Attached to this release is a list of all recent service closures in west-central Saskatchewan that the Saskatchewan NDP obtained via a freedom of information request.

The Saskatchewan NDP and local patient advocates are calling out local Sask. Party MLAs Kim Gartner, James Thorsteinson and Colleen Young for failing to deliver change and for letting their constituents go without these vital healthcare services.

“We’ve seen zero results from the local Sask. Party MLAs. They’re putting party politics ahead of the people who elected them,” said Rural and Remote Health Shadow Minister Meara Conway.

“Gartner, Thorsteinson and Young need to stand up to Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill. Drive down the same roads your constituents take to North Battleford for care — and do your jobs.”

“Healthcare in Lloydminster is encountering considerable difficulties stemming from resource shortages across various sectors, most notably insufficient staffing that has led to the unavailability of the CT scanner, which the community contributed to by covering half of its cost,” said Kristine Weisbeck, a Lloydminster patient advocate and first responder.

“My efforts to express my worries regarding these urgent issues to our local MLA, Colleen Young, have not been very fruitful, as I have only received a response indicating that she requires additional time to address them.”

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