Saskatchewan Health Authority to Enhance Emergency Room Closure Updates
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is set to revamp its communication approach regarding emergency room closures across the province. Starting next week, the health authority will initiate daily updates on all reported disruptions to emergency services in Saskatchewan, aiming to enhance the current system that previously only notified about service disruptions lasting a week or more.
Responding to inquiries from the Opposition NDP in the legislative assembly on Thursday concerning informing residents about emergency room closures, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill referred to a recently issued news release. Cockrill acknowledged feedback received during the summer from various community members and leaders across the province expressing frustrations with the existing notification process for disruptions. As a result, he tasked the Saskatchewan Health Authority with developing a new process to address these concerns.
The Saskatchewan NDP has been highlighting numerous service disruptions in recent months, including a case on Oct. 14 after the Thanksgiving long weekend, where patients from Kipling were redirected to Arcola’s emergency room, which was also closed.
In a statement released on Thursday, the health authority outlined that emergency service closures could stem from staff and physician shortages, unplanned absences, scheduled leaves, or facility and equipment upgrades.
Jared Clarke, the NDP’s rural health critic, expressed that the updated notification policy falls short. He cited numerous emergency room closures over the past couple of years of varying durations. Clarke proposed a private member’s bill on Thursday mandating public notification of hospital emergency room closures within one hour of approval by the provincial health authority.
The revised protocol announced by the health authority states that updates will be available daily at 4 p.m. CST on its website, starting next week. When questioned about the possibility of real-time updates on closures, Cockrill emphasized the need for the health authority to balance its priorities.
The adaptation in the notification process for emergency room service disruptions aims to address concerns raised by residents and improve transparency regarding service interruptions in Saskatchewan.
