SASKATOON—Saskatchewan-NDP Shadow Minister for Health Vicki Mowat lashed back at the Sask Party government for announcing the reduction of the Saskatoon City Hospital emergency department’s working hours during the weekend again. On Friday, March 14, the Saskatoon Health Authority announced that the City Hospital’s ED will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The SHA said again was a temporary measure. It will remain in effect until June 27 as it continues to take action to ensure the public has consistent access to healthcare services. This is the third time the City Hospital’s ED has reduced its working hours. It used to operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In a statement, Mowat, the Saskatoon Fairview MLA, reiterated that the Sask Party-led government's decision to reduce the City Hospital’s work hours is horrible. This will result in the closure of more healthcare services in Saskatoon.
“After weeks of service closures, the Sask. Party quietly announced [on Friday afternoon] that Saskatoon City Hospital emergency room hours will be cut back five hours each day until at least June—all the Sask. Party has closed healthcare services and expanded the bureaucracy,” said Mowat.
“After 17 years of the Sask. Party, Saskatchewan is ranked last in Canada for healthcare worker recruitment and retention, and Saskatoon’s emergency room waits are the longest in Canada. Healthcare workers are leaving our province in droves because many haven’t seen a pay raise from this government in nearly three years.”
She added that the province needs to ensure that the future of hospitals has adequate doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers so that the City Hospital’s ER can operate 24 hours a day since emergencies do not happen only during business hours.
In their announcement, the SHA advised the public to avail of ED services at the Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital as they redeploy physician resources after the City Hospital’s ED closes at 4 p.m.
Twenty-four professional health advice are also available at HeathLine 811, and the public can visit walk-in clinics. They need to check the clinic’s hours as scheduled, which may vary. Some pharmacies will also remain open to assist with minor healthcare needs.
“The SHA appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation during this time and extends its gratitude to healthcare staff and physicians providing essential services in acute and community settings,” they said in the announcement.
