SASKATOON HOSPITAL EMERGECNCY ROOMS BURSTING AT SEAMS, PATIENTS BEING TREATED IN HALLWAYS

For immediate release: May 22, 2025

Saskatchewan NDP Demands Emergency Action Plan As Horrible Crisis Re-emerges In Royal University, St. Paul’s Hospitals

SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan NDP is sounding the alarm after learning from frontline workers that the emergency rooms in both the Royal University Hospital (RUH) and St. Paul’s Hospital were operating dangerously overcapacity on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 93 patients were packed into the RUH emergency room designed for half of that. Stretchers lined public hallways leaving patients without privacy or dignity.

At nearby St. Paul’s, there were 53 patients in an emergency room designed for 28, forcing patients to be treated in the waiting room (attached photos).

“This is a crisis, not a coincidence,” said Mowat. “When nearly 100 people are packed into an ER designed for half of that, with patients on stretchers in hallways, no curtains, no privacy — this is a clear sign our healthcare system is overwhelmed.

“People deserve better, and healthcare workers deserve better.”

Staff at RUH and St. Paul’s have consistently reported being burnt out, working in unsafe conditions and a lack of resources to deal with surging patient demand. In the fall, frontline staff described conditions frequently inside the RUH emergency department as being similar to a “warzone.”

While ER overcrowding has become more frequent in recent years, Mowat said the situation yesterday shows just how far conditions have deteriorated.

“This isn’t just about numbers — it’s about real people waiting hours in pain, seniors stuck on stretchers in hallways, and families worried sick. This government has ignored warning after warning from healthcare workers.

“Instead of fixing our healthcare for the future, the Sask. Party chose to cut healthcare by $17 million in the provincial budget.”

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Sask. Party government to reverse their healthcare cuts, staff up hospitals provincewide and, specifically to immediately develop and publicly release an emergency plan to address the crisis at Royal University and St. Paul’s.

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