SASK. PARTY DELAYING LIFE-SAVING HEALTHCARE CLOSURE BILL LEAVES MOOSE JAW RESIDENTS AT RISK

MOOSE JAW – Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are delaying legislation that would provide real-time public reporting of healthcare closures, a move that puts Moose Jaw and area residents at greater risk.

Bill 606, introduced during the Fall Sitting, would require the Saskatchewan Health Authority to publicly report healthcare closures within one hour through an online platform or other electronic means. Despite supporting the legislation passing a critical vote at second reading last week, the government blocked the bill yesterday from being expedited to a final vote.

“After 20 years of the Sask. Party, emergency rooms across our province often close at a moment's notice due to short staffing — the least this government can do is to publicly notify the people of Saskatchewan if their hospital is compromised,” said Associate Shadow Health Minister Keith Jorgenson.

“This bill is about giving people critical, timely information when they need care the most. In an emergency, knowing where services are available can be the difference between life and death.”

Data from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, leaked to the Opposition, indicates that Moose Jaw’s hospital was operating at 102 per cent capacity yesterday.

Additional data obtained through a freedom of information request shows repeated service closures at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital, including:

Obstetric and gynecological services closed for three consecutive days in July 2022
Basic radiology and laboratory services closed for 216 days between November 2020 and June 2021
A total of 317 days of different service closures since 2019

“We already provide real-time updates for highway closures to keep people safe,” Jorgenson said. “There is no reason we shouldn’t do the same for emergency healthcare.”

Carla Beck’s team will continue pushing for Bill 606 to be passed for residents in Moose Jaw and across the province.

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