Patients and front-line workers in health care should not see any change occur, as the provincial Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) replaced all health regions as of Monday. Anyone who is receiving health care or visits any of the health care facilities should not see any change or disruption of service once the SHA took over.
鈥淭he transition to a single provincial health authority is a significant milestone, as we work to better integrate and coordinate health care services for Saskatchewan people, wherever they live,鈥� said Jim Reiter, Minister of Health. 鈥淭he focus is on streamlining governance and management across the province. Frontline employees will carry out their day-to-day patient care responsibilities as usual.鈥�
All other health boards officially ceased to exist as of Monday morning, as now the SHA will administer health care services across the province, with local executives now taking on new roles. For senior executive positions, it will be 鈥渂usiness as usual鈥�, only now they will begin to report to the provincial level 鈥渦ntil we鈥檙e told otherwise.鈥�
By moving to a single provincial health authority, the provincial government will be able to reduce senior administrative staff positions by 86 per cent and reduce senior administrative staff salaries by 80 per cent or $9 million annually.
鈥淢aintaining local connections and preserving strong community relationships is a priority for our government and for the Saskatchewan Health Authority,鈥� said Greg Ottenbreit, Minister of Rural and Remote Health.
