When the Health Centre first opened in 2018, the Sask. Party touted it as the future of primary care in Saskatchewan and the
government budgeted $4.3 million for the clinic and $3.0 million annually beginning in 2019-20.
“Five thousand people are being tossed into crisis this weekend because Scott Moe's Health Minister couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger, said Meara Conway, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Health Minister. “Families are terrified, patients with complex needs are scrambling, and the Minister’s only plan is to shrug his shoulders. That is a total failure of leadership.”
In September, patients were notified in writing that the clinic would close because it “cannot secure sufficient physician staffing.” Many patients, some with complex or chronic conditions, are now left in an impossible position.
Thirty-six-year-old Tammy Hellend has been a patient at the clinic since it opened and is now searching for a family doctor. She lives with celiac disease, anxiety, depression and ADHD.
“I’ve been phoning clinics all week with no luck. I’ve even posted on Reddit to see if someone knows of a doctor accepting patients. This is such a hit. It’s really scary,” said Hellend.
“Because I struggle with mental health issues and am on a controlled substance for my ADHD, it’s not easy to get the care you need at a walk-in clinic. Even getting my prescriptions filled will now be a challenge.”
Wayne Toker, 63, says he and six others in his neighbourhood are now left without a family doctor as well.
“It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack,” says Toker. “Good job Scott Moe for dropping the ball on this clinic after you said what you said when it opened and spent all that money. Now you say it’s a private clinic and walk away from a clinic that had five thousand patients.”
“This is a big deal. I don’t think the Minister realizes how serious this is,” said Hellend. “I’m sure if Scott Moe needed a doctor he could snap his fingers and get one in seconds.”
“After 18 years in power, the Sask. Party has driven our health system into last place and driven doctors out of the province. This closure is the direct result of their neglect,” added Conway.
“Residents deserve solutions, not excuses,” Conway added. “We need bold, urgent action to rebuild primary care and keep doctors and nurses in Saskatchewan. People deserve better. They deserve a brighter future and can’t wait any longer.”
According to a
new study released this morning by Angus Reid, one in four Saskatchewan residents – or 300,000 – do not have access to a family doctor, up significantly from previous estimates of one in six.
The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Sask. Party to step in and keep Garden’s Medical Clinic open, or at least present an emergency transition plan to ensure that no patient of Garden’s will go without primary care.