Sask. Party Offers No Solutions To Keep Rural Hospitals Open Over Holidays, Ease Backlog In Cities
REGINA – Chaos in Saskatchewan healthcare will continue right through Christmas as public reporting Tuesday identified 10 rural emergency room closures across the province — and Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are nowhere to be found.
“Last week, we saw horrifying evidence of overcrowding in hospitals in Saskatchewan’s four largest cities — wait times for proper care of three full days or longer — and it’s clear that the situation in rural Saskatchewan is no better, as many hospitals aren’t even open for patients,” said Jared Clarke, Saskatchewan NDP Rural & Remote Health Shadow Minister. “It’s clear healthcare here is in worse shape than it’s ever been.
“I hope Scott Moe and his Health Minister are enjoying their holidays as there is going to be little thought of celebration or relaxation on the frontlines in Saskatchewan’s overrun healthcare system over the holidays.”
Emergency rooms in Davidson, Hudson Bay, Outlook, Oxbow and Spiritwood were closed for much of the day Tuesday, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, while the facilities in Leader and Melville were due to be closed for all of Christmas Eve and reopen Christmas Day. Closures of the emergency rooms in Kamsack, Wilkie and Wolseley have been extended over much longer periods.
“Basically, it’s the most terrifying version of a guessing game out there,” Clarke said. “I fear for patients who show up this Christmas needing emergency care to find a closed sign. The Sask. Party thinks providing a once-a-day update on these closures is sufficient — but, clearly, it’s not. In a medical emergency, seconds can be the difference between life and death.”
The Regina Urgent Care Centre will also be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Clarke has a bill before the Legislature requiring real-time updates on emergency room closures; however, the Sask. Party has tried to work around it to give the appearance of fixing rural healthcare by imposing a policy that would see a rural emergency room kept open if there is just a single registered nurse available onsite. Many emergency rooms are operating without a physician physically onsite as well — something else that goes unreported.
The Saskatchewan NDP continues to consult on big, bold changes needed to get healthcare in the province out of last place. Everyone in the province is welcome to provide input or submit their ideas at YourCareYourSay.ca.
-30-
My thoughts are with the 117 workers and their families who will be impacted by this decision.
These are families being thrown into financial anxiety, because of the total mismanagement of Saskatchewan's forestry industry by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party.
From refusing to assist the forest sector when it comes to Donald Trump's tariffs, to allowing disease, insects, and wildfires to devastate forests and destroy investment, it’s clear that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party don't view our forests as assets worth managing.
Our team has made a number of calls to support the forest sector, including allowing dues free salvage of the burned areas to aid reforestation, to focusing on replanting to show a commitment to growth.
Carla Beck’s team has listened to the industry and community stakeholders for the forest sector, and are working to support them to protect the good jobs and communities that rely on them.
The Sask. Party has failed the forest sector, workers and communities for nearly two decades, and now 117 workers in Prince Albert are facing the consequences.
It’s time for change.
-30-
Scott Moe’s Sask. Party Breaks Promise Of Childcare Access For Families
SASKATOON – Carla Beck's team is calling on Scott Moe to explain why prospective childcare providers are being denied licenses after receiving letters stating that the government believes there is "no need" for additional childcare spaces — even as families across the province remain on waitlists for months and, in many cases, years.
Summer Tour Comes As Part Of Ongoing Your Care, Your Say Project
BALGONIE – Carla Beck's team will be hitting the road this summer to talk to people in dozens of rural Saskatchewan communities about the need to deliver big, bold change in healthcare to keep hospital emergency rooms open — and to, at least, provide lifesaving information when they’re closed.