Last week, video emerged of numerous patients being crammed into hallways at the hospital and allegations surfaced that many are being left there for days — even devastating cancer diagnoses are being given to people out in the open because there are no available beds.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority, which is filled with Sask. Party political friends and insiders at the senior level, attempted to downplay the hallway healthcare chaos as merely a surge due to flu season.
Nurses, however, are
calling that a blatant lie. A social media post from the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, attributed to a nurse at the hospital, stated the following: “Hallway beds are not due to a ‘surge,’ they are now routine. The fact of the matter is that hallway beds are so routine, they are even named: ‘E pod’ and ‘F pod.’ ... What next? Are we going all the way to Z?”
The post later added: “Who has to die before they stop making excuses and take the problem seriously?”
“Clearly, the healthcare crisis is getting even worse — even when we thought that wasn’t possible,” said Keith Jorgenson, Saskatchewan NDP Associate Shadow Health Minister. “People in desperate need of care are being piled on top of each other in hallways while they suffer in agony and have no privacy.
“I am calling on Sask. Party Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill to get off his chair, head to Royal University Hospital himself and witness firsthand the failures of his Sask. Party Government. Perhaps then, he will take this crisis seriously.”
After 18 years of the Sask. Party in power, healthcare in Saskatchewan — the birthplace of Medicare — is last in all of Canada.
The Saskatchewan NDP is building a plan for big, bold change in healthcare. All Saskatchewan people are encouraged to get involved at YourCareYourSay.ca
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