Rural communities across Saskatchewan including Watrous, Edam, St. Walburg, Paradise Hill, Kipling, Broadview, Herbert, Porcupine Planes, Preeceville, Shellbrook, Leader and Arcola, have all experienced healthcare disruptions in the last 2 weeks.
“And those are just the ones we know of,” said Keith Jorgenson, Saskatchewan NDP Associate Shadow Health Minister.
“The truth is the Sask. Party tries to hide its failures in healthcare. We hear from people who arrive at these facilities desperately seeking care only to find a sign on the door saying it’s closed.
“It is unbelievable that the Sask. Party sits on its hands while rural emergency rooms — which could be the difference between life and death — close without warning. This shouldn’t be happening and, when it unfortunately does, there needs to be more than a sign on the door telling people. Someone is going to die rushing to an emergency room that isn’t even open.”
With no consistent communication from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Town of Watrous has resorted to posting emergency room updates on Facebook to keep the community informed. Residents say they’re often unaware of the closures until they arrive at the hospital.
On Monday, another notice appeared that the emergency room was closed as of noon and would not reopen until Wednesday at 8 a.m.
“We’ve counted more than 30 closures at the Watrous emergency room since the year began — and still the local Sask. Party MLA, the Minister, the Premier, nobody says a thing. This isn’t leadership, it’s cowardice.
The emergency room Kipling is currently closed for 10 days, according to a sign on the door of the facility.
“Where is the accountability?” Jorgenson said. “Where is the plan to get us out of this mess?
“Saskatchewan, you deserve leadership, you deserve a government that will fix healthcare and ensure it’s there for you and your loved ones. We don’t have to settle for this — we can choose a new government that’s focused on the future and on delivering quality healthcare right across this province.”
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