REGINA – Once again, conditions at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon are coming under the microscope from the official Opposition.
This time, the controversy involves the situation in what used to be the registration area of the hospital, but which now is being used for an outpatient area for rapid access to addictions medicine registration.
On Wednesday the NDP released a photo taken from a worker at the hospital, showing overcrowded conditions in that area. At the Legislature, NDP Health critic Meara Conway said the space was being used for overflow from the emergency room, with portable beds within an arm’s length of one another.
Conway added the area “is not equipped to do emergency medicine. There’s no oxygen. There’s no suction. There’s no nursing supplies. There’s no privacy curtains, and this area offers no dignity to the people that are having to access care there. Not to mention, you know, we should not be forcing people to receive what could potentially be life-altering medical news within inches of a stranger.”
She noted issues were raised already by over 200 frontline health care workers at St. Paul’s Hospital. “They raised these issues months ago, similar to the 450 health care workers at Royal University Hospital that raised these issues. And we just see this getting worse.”
Conway added that they toured St. Paul’s Hospital recently and also met with frontline emergency room health care providers while there, and had done the same at Royal University Hospital.
“We’ve reached out to the people that penned these letters, sounded this alarm, made this cry for help. This is the work that government should be doing. Those people are full of solutions, and it’s very disappointing that not only has the government not reached out to those people, they have asked us — they said, sure, post the fact that you’ve met with us, but redact our identities because we’re scared of retaliation.”
Conway also accused the government of not reaching out and meeting with the frontline workers. Instead, “their priority is putting in place a snitch line when these people are asking for a lifeline. So it’s very disappointing to see.”
Conway also said there are solutions available, noting they are still engaged in “our Big Bold Ideas health care consultation. We will have the fruits of that in the coming months.”
The NDP latest criticisms about conditions at St. Paul’s Hospital come not long after the grand opening for the new entrance there earlier this year, an event that was attended by Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill. Conway made clear she was unimpressed with Cockrill’s attendance at that grand opening.
“Jeremy Cockrill was quick to show up to cut that ribbon, and he has yet to meet with those frontline health care workers. He was quick to show up to cut that ribbon at the St. Paul’s entrance,” said Conway.
“ … And where is he? He is nowhere to be found when it comes to meeting with these frontline health care workers. The nurses that are having to work nights — eight nurses short in that hospital this week — when they have that kind of overflow. The nurses that are now talking about the violence that they experience on a daily basis. So where is Jeremy Cockrill when it counts? This is the work that the government should be doing.”
In a statement Wednesday, Saskatchewan Health Authority said they “responded to increased demand for emergency services this week at St. Paul’s Hospital by utilizing vacant space as a temporary patient care area adjacent to the emergency department.“
SHA said the space was “equipped with appropriate emergency department stretchers, equipment, supplies and staff. Temporary privacy panels were installed for patients to ensure their care was provided in private and did not impact outpatient services being offered nearby. This allowed for the delivery of safe patient care and continuity while managing pressures within the emergency department.”SHA adds that addictions beds were not used.
“Emergency department admissions across the province fluctuate on a daily basis. The SHA appreciates everyone’s understanding and patience,” they stated.
