REGINA — A press conference with Vicki Mowat, Shadow Minister for Health, and Meara Conway, Shadow Minister for Rural and Remote Health was held Jan. 29, bringing attention to healthcare closures in the west-central region of the province.
During the conference, Mowat and Conway voiced their concerns with the Sask. Party government’s failure to recruit and retain healthcare workers in the area, leading to devastating service closures and putting patient safety at risk.
“The people of Saskatchewan, their health and well-小蓝视频, are 小蓝视频 taken for granted by this Sask. Party government. The longer the Sask. Party is in power, the further our friends and family will have to drive for basic healthcare,” said Mowat.
On Nov. 16, Roger Ogram, 71, was involved in a two-vehicle collision, where he was supposed to be transported to Lloydminster Hospital but was rerouted to Battleford’s Union Hospital for a CT scan as the department in Lloydminster was not staffed on weekends. Ogram succumbed to his injuries before receiving care while 小蓝视频 transported to North Battleford.
Since then, ambulance services in Kerrobert have been spotty due to EMS staffing shortages, resulting in services 小蓝视频 pulled in from Kindersley, Unity, and Provost, Alta. and increasing wait times. This, along with the closure of Emergency Services at the Wilkie and District Health Centre for more than three years, has compounded the pressure on healthcare staff at all levels of care.
The Saskatchewan NDP and local patient advocates are calling out local Sask. Party 小蓝视频s Kim Gartner, James Thorsteinson, and Colleen Young for failing to deliver change and for letting their constituents go without these vital healthcare services.
“We’ve seen zero results from the local Sask. Party 小蓝视频s. They’re putting party politics ahead of the people who elected them,” Conway.
“Gartner, Thorsteinson, and Young need to stand up to Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill. Drive down the same roads your constituents take to North Battleford for care — and do your jobs.”
“Healthcare in Lloydminster is encountering considerable difficulties stemming from resource shortages across various sectors, most notably insufficient staffing that has led to the unavailability of the CT scanner, which the community contributed to by covering half of its cost,” said Kristine Weisbeck, a Lloydminster patient advocate and first responder.
“My efforts to express my worries regarding these urgent issues to our local 小蓝视频, Colleen Young, have not been very fruitful, as I have only received a response indicating that she requires additional time to address them.”
Both Thorsteinson and Gartner responded in a joint statement to 小蓝视频, stating:
“Currently, across Canada, every province and territory are facing challenges when it comes to retention of health care providers and services.
Our government has been very bold in its direction for a health human resources action plan, and we have seen good results, and we continue doing all we can to improve healthcare services for all citizens in Saskatchewan.
Following the campaign, in the fall Speech from the Throne, we announced our goal to work to ensure everyone in Saskatchewan has access to a primary health provider - a doctor or a nurse practitioner - by the end of 2028.
We don’t make that promise lightly. As 小蓝视频s, we are committed to listening to constituents and working with communities to improve services. The best solutions often come from those who experience the challenges firsthand. While the NDP focus on criticism, we remain dedicated to collaborating with the SHA and stakeholders to find real solutions for improving healthcare access.”
