SASKATOON HOSPITALS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS, OPERATING OVERCAPACITY FOR MONTHS: DATA

Your Care, Your Say Project Launched By Carla Beck’s Team Focuses On Accountability, Public Reporting
SASKATOON – St. Paul’s Hospital and Royal University Hospital are bursting at the seams as newly acquired Saskatchewan Health Authority data shows that both Saskatoon hospitals were operating dangerously over capacity for months on end.

“Overcrowding hospitals are signs of a healthcare system on life support after 20 years of Scott Moe and the Sask. Party,” said Carla Beck. “When patients are being treated shoulder-to-shoulder in hallways, it's a clear sign that our healthcare system is bursting at the seams.

“This Premier continues to spend his days buying billboards to tell people healthcare is getting better when it’s not. For the record, a government actually delivering healthcare wouldn’t need flashy advertising campaigns, people would be able to see the results with their own eyes.”

Saskatoon’s St. Paul’s operated at over 107 per cent capacity in November, nearly 111 per cent in December and 114 per cent in January.

Royal University, meanwhile, operated at 113 per cent capacity in November, dipped slightly to just under 109 per cent capacity in December and nearly 113 per cent capacity in January. Beck’s team was not provided more recent figures; however, Keith Jorgenson, Associate Shadow Health Minister, said that’s part of the problem.

“The reality is we’re relying on frontline healthcare workers risking their jobs and Freedom of Information requests to learn of these capacity challenges,” Jorgenson said. “During the Spring Sitting, Scott Moe and his incompetent Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill stood every day and claimed they’re improving healthcare.

“The data tells the exact opposite story. We have a government more focused on hiding the truth than actively fixing it — the first step in solving a problem is admitting there is a problem.”

Beck’s team touted a focus on transparency and public reporting on the state of healthcare in their roadmap to deliver big, bold change in healthcare, released earlier this week at YourCareYourSay.ca.

“This issue goes way beyond stats on a spreadsheet,” Jorgenson said. “This level of overcrowding means patients are often waiting for hours in pain and receiving life-altering healthcare information and services next to complete strangers.”

There is no indication that the Sask. Party will staff up the hospitals and deliver on their election promise as Scott Moe’s bad news budget only increased funding for healthcare by 0.3 per cent.

Jorgenson also been working alongside Rural & Remote Health Shadow Minister Jared Clarke to fight for real-time reporting of emergency room closures, information that can mean the difference between life and death.

Clarke’s Bill 606 to require such reporting was initially supported by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party in the legislature but voted down in later stages of debate. People wanting to support the campaign for real-time reporting can send an email directly to Moe with just a few clicks at ndpcaucus.sk.ca/erclosurenotice

“Scott Moe and Jeremy Cockrill have broken our health care system, and they cannot be trusted to fix it,” said Jorgenson.

“We need big, bold change to get healthcare out of last place.”

-30-

Latest posts

STUDENT CRIES FOR HELP FROM SASK. PARTY AS HOUSING COSTS SKYROCKET BY $800 IN THREE YEARS

Gas, Groceries, Spiking Tuition Causing Extra Stress For Students Heading Into Finals
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is being joined at the Legislature by a student representing many to demand help from the Sask. Party as the cost for housing has shot up by nearly $1,000 over the past three years.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO COMBAT 20 YEARS OF SASK. PARTY CORRUPTION, SCANDAL, WASTE & MISMANAGEMENT

'This Is The Least Transparent Government In All Of Canada And It’s Not Even Close’
REGINA — Today, Carla Beck’s team has introduced new legislation to throw open the books after two decades of Sask. Party scandal, corruption, waste and mismanagement.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PROCLAIM THE NATIONAL DAY OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION AS PROVINCIAL HOLIDAY

Beck’s Team Urges Sask. Party Government To Follow Suit With Other Provinces, Territories Who Have Already Taken This Step

REGINA – Today, Carla Beck’s team has introduced private members legislation that would recognize Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as a public holiday under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

SCOTT MOE’S INCOMPETENT SASKPOWER MINISTER FLIP FLOPS ON CLAIMS SHERWOOD DATA CENTRE WOULD LOWER POWER RATES

Sask. Party Presses Ahead With Project While Denying Public A Voice At Every Turn
REGINA – Mere days after claiming the hyperscale AI data centre would actually lower power rates, Scott Moe’s incompetent SaskPower Minister is flip-flopping and says no final decision has been made on a planned 3.9 per cent power hike next year, the second in as many years.

NDP Caucus Office