Over the weekend, a vice-president with the Saskatchewan Health Authority admitted in an interview there is no timeline to move the Regina Urgent Care Centre to 24/7. Instead, on June 14, the centre reduced its hours to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Originally, it was supposed to be operating around the clock as of last fall.
While failing to deliver urgent care in Regina, the Sask. Party has continued its smoke-and-mirrors game, announcing in its Throne Speech last fall similar centres in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford and Moose Jaw.
“They can’t even staff the one centre they’ve opened,” said Keith Jorgenson, Saskatchewan NDP Associate Shadow Health Minister. “This is all smoke and mirrors and it’s the people of Saskatchewan who suffer.
“The Saskatchewan NDP hears every day from people in the cities and in the rural areas of this province who cannot get the care they need. Enough is enough. If this government won’t deliver healthcare, get the hell out of the way and let someone else come forward.”
Jorgenson demanded immediate transparency by the Sask. Party, telling them to come forward with real information about the Regina Urgent Care Centre and others that have been promised by the government. He said the people of Saskatchewan deserve better.
“We see widespread emergency room closures and some of the longest waits for critical surgeries in the entire country,” Jorgenson said. “Even the promises this government makes to improve healthcare end up being abject failures.
“The Saskatchewan NDP is here. We’re focused on the future — and we believe a major priority should be ensuring healthcare is there for people when and where they need it.”
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