REGINA — As Saskatchewan continues to see rising hospitalization numbers due to COVID-19, the provincial NDP are calling on the government to reach out to federal resources for help.
Opposition health critic Vicki Mowat said today that the provincial government should be tapping into public services like the military, to create a triage plan before health services are completely overwhelmed.
“This premier has repeatedly stated that hospital capacity is what's driving his decision-making, but healthcare professionals are warning that we are barreling towards collapse,” said Mowat. “We need leadership that is proactively working to maintain hospital capacity, not reacting when things get to a point of no return.”
The call follows a similar plea made by Alberta yesterday, with the province seeking federal support to move critically ill COVID patients out-of-province for care.
Mowat pointed to the fact that the Saskatchewan Health Authority has already released framework to guide ethical triage decisions regarding patient care, as proof that the province is lagging in it's COVID response.
As of Sept. 21, 78 of 101 available ICU beds, which includes 22 surge beds added due to the pandemic, were full.
Earlier today, the SHA also shared that the pediatric intensive care unit at James Patterson Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon has opened its doors to adult COVID patients, to help ease capacity stresses in other ICUs. Currently, JPCH is housing two adult COVID patients in it's PICU.
“The fact that Saskatchewan's health system is one car wreck away from not being able to provide adequate care should keep the premier up at night,” said Mowat.
Several schools and an estimated 30 long-term care homes have also reported outbreaks within their facilities. A total of 426 new cases were reported today, with 265 individuals hospitalized in either inpatient or ICU care.
Mowat said that movement to create a response plan for Sask. needs to begin immediately, and that the province is at a point where outsourcing for resources is already necessary.
The opposition is looking for more leadership from the province, said Mowat, and admittance that current measures will not be enough to address the incoming COVID wave.
“We are currently in a crisis right now with the government that is not only refusing to act but worse, even refusing to acknowledge critical issues until it's too late,” said Mowat.
She said the NDP feels that reaching out to federal agencies, to deploy support from services like military personnel, has become a necessary next step.
“There are all kinds of roles that the military can play,” said Mowat. “It can be providing medical support, including ICU support from medical nurses, but it can also be logistical support, like providing troops on the ground as extra bodies to clean, provide supplies, or contact members of the community for contact tracing.”
On Tuesday, Premier Scott Moe laid blame on the federal government for not providing enough support to vaccination programs in the provinces, especially those for rural and Indigenous communities.
Mowat countered, saying Moe and the provincial Minister of Health have had time to provide clearer access to vaccine clinics and failed to do so.
She also called for more attention to be diverted to testing and contact tracing, as the current model is laying the responsibility largely on individuals and not public health staff.
“Timely contact tracing is critical, and that could be a very easy first step of providing individuals who could help to lighten that load a little bit,” said Mowat.
“We need to put our heads together and create a plan that will address the fourth wave,” continued Mowat. “It's running roughshod across our province, and we need to work immediately to address the concerns of rising case numbers.”
