SASKATOON – The opposition New Democrats are again sounding off about posts on social media speaking of deteriorating conditions in Saskatchewan’s health care system.
Their latest news conference Tuesday focused on a recent post from a Facebook personality who had posted about her experience in the health care system in Saskatoom.
According to the NDP news release, the influencer had arrived at the Royal University Hospital emergency room with severe abdominal pain, had waited more than seven hours without seeing a doctor, and then ventured home.
The NDP say the post drew responses over the weekend from over 500 people who commented about poor conditions in the health care system.
NDP Associate Health critic Keith Jorgenson spoke of some of those responses at a media availability in Saskatoon. Posted on the walls were several copies of negative comments posted about health care.
Jorgenson pointed to those copies of comments as he spoke of one instance where a seventy-year-old woman had “sought care inside one of our hospitals for what turned out to be a broken wrist."
"She was unable to receive the care that she required and the wrist healed improperly. Now she's lost the full use of that hand. She can't even write anymore. You know, our health care system is supposed to heal people. It's not supposed to hurt people… and (Premier) Scott Moe keeps telling the people of Saskatchewan that his plan for health care is working. And I want you to look around me at all the posts and stories from people that are telling Scott Moe that his plan isn't working.”
Jorgenson pointed to another comment from someone who said: “When I went to the ER with unrelenting pain, I ended up with two days in the hallway and emergency gallbladder removal. I hope I don't have to endure that pain again. I'm so sorry you're going through such a painful time. I had a kid with literally their guts ripped out, and we waited for eight hours to be seen, and then emergency surgery. The system is broken. Heal quickly.”
Another post read:
“I'm so sorry you experienced that. I don't have any insider knowledge or advice, but I agree with you that something has to change. The staff are doing their best, but the system is broken. My only insider tip for people is to stop voting for the Sask Party. They've caused such a mess in our health care system, and finally they now admit that they're going to stop standing still when it comes to health care.”
This is just the latest instance of posts on social media that have criticized the health care system in Saskatchewan. Last year saw the posting of videos that went viral depicting overcrowded conditions in hallways at Royal University Hospital.
As for his own reaction to the latest comments posted, Jorgenson had this to say:
“You know, it is difficult to hear those stories of suffering, but it's also equally difficult to see the government try the same failed plan over and over and over again, with no hope of improving the situation, because they can't even admit that the system isn't working. You know, we keep hearing Scott Moe talk how proudly, how they have the best plan, the best recruitment plan, and then you see what people have to deal with on a daily basis. It is such a disconnect between this government and reality.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority sent out a response to the NDP news conference in which they said they were “committed to providing safe, high quality and accessible health care to the people of Saskatchewan.”
“As part of the province’s Patients First Health Care Plan, the SHA is working hard to alleviate capacity pressures at Saskatoon’s three tertiary centres to ensure people are getting the right care at the right time as close to home as possible.”
The SHA said the addition of beds to each hospital is “already underway, with more to be added in the coming months. All additional beds will be operational early next year. Saskatoon City Hospital will have an additional 109 beds, Royal University Hospital 36 more beds and St. Paul’s Hospital an additional 24.”
The SHA also said that with substantial completion expecting to finish this fall, “the Saskatoon Urgent Care Centre will also help reduce pressure on emergency departments by offering an alternative care option for urgent, but non-life-threatening health concerns.”
They called the addition of these beds and services part of their multi-year Capacity Pressure Action Plan.
