SASKATOON — The government and the Opposition continue their repetitive exchange on the province’s issue of healthcare, with Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill celebrating that an additional 40 beds have opened as part of their ongoing efforts to expand the acute care capacity in the hospital of Saskatchewan’s largest city.
Cockrill, in a media conference on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Saskatoon City Hospital, said that the 40 new acute care beds are the first phase of the government’s 109-bed expansion project aimed at relieving pressures on hospitals across the city, adding that this is a milestone and a significant step forward for patients and families struggling with long waits and overcrowded emergency departments.
He said they expect another 20 beds to open at City Hospital between March and April 2027. The full rollout of the 109-bed expansion includes 22 for acute rehabilitation, 12 for acquired brain injury, 60 for general medicine, 15 for high acuity, and ancillary and support services, including expanded medical imaging, laboratory, and pharmacy services.
“We're hoping for the next 20 beds to be open here at the Saskatoon City Hospital. Then, to get the full 109, will require again some of the transition of the units that are currently here at the hospital. Two other sites in the community for those renovations to be completed at the Market Mall, hoping by the end of 2026, we have all 109 beds operational here,” Cockrill added.
In contrast, Saskatchewan NDP Associate Shadow Minister for Health Keith Jorgenson criticized Cockrill, saying that the 40 beds the Health Minister has been talking about over the last seven months have finally opened. However, he added that what good would it be if there is a staff shortage that even caused the Saskatoon City Hospital’s emergency department to close at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2.
“A bed is no good if you have no staff to care for people in those beds. We have an epidemic of staff shortages that caused this hospital to close at 3 o'clock on Sunday. It caused absolute chaos and hardships in other ERs in Saskatoon,” Jorgenson said in a media scrum outside the city hospital after Cockrill’s announcement.
Cockrill shrugged off the Saskatoon City Hospital’s closure, saying it was “a one-time freak disruption due to position availability” and rejected the idea that the province’s healthcare system is deteriorating, insisting that the government’s recruitment and retention efforts are beginning to make a measurable impact. He thanked frontline staff for their dedication and pointed to reductions in emergency department wait times and patient backlogs as early signs of progress.
“It was an unplanned absence, a last-minute cancellation, unfortunately. Again, when that situation arises, we have to notify the public right away, and that does affect services available to the public. You know, when it comes to emergency room staffing here at the Saskatoon City Hospital, we are working with our ER physicians,” said Cockrill.
“We really cover all three emergency rooms in the city to make sure it is adequately staffed. We also have the Urgent Care Centre under construction right now on the west side of Saskatoon that will continue to work with both emergency positions. We take these challenges very seriously. Our focus remains on building a stronger, sustainable healthcare system that puts patients first.”
Cockrell said the complete expansion of acute care beds is part of the government’s plan to increase hospital capacity and improve patient flow throughout the province and would require 500 healthcare staff, including 385 full-time positions. About 150 positions have been filled, allowing for the full staffing of the 40 beds that have opened. The provincial government has invested $30 million in each of the past two budgets to boost inpatient capacity in Saskatoon and Regina. It has also allocated $460 million since 2022 to recruit, train, and retain healthcare workers through its Health Human Resources Action Plan.
Jorgenson, the NDP’s MLA for Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood, also challenged Cockrill’s optimistic tone, accusing the government of failing to address the underlying issues driving resignations and burnout among healthcare workers, adding that, despite new investments, provincial healthcare workers report rising workloads and shorter hours, making it harder to maintain consistent patient care.
“The minister keeps talking about having the best retention strategy in the country. But what we’re seeing is a continued deterioration in our hospitals. We can talk about plans and announcements all day, but until we fix the staffing crisis, patients will keep paying the price,” added Jorgenson.
