The NDP held a conference in Moose Jaw, just outside of the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Hospital in Moose Jaw calling for the re-opening of the hyperbaric chamber located within the building.
The chamber was opened in 2015 following calls from the citizens of Moose Jaw and an $850,000 fundraising drive, led by Moose Jaw Firefighters Association. However, the hyperbaric chamber in Moose Jaw had been out of operation since 2021 due to limited staff available to operate the chamber and has only recently resumed partial operation.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy utilizes a high-pressure environment to deliver pure oxygen, under these conditions the lungs ability to gather oxygen is greatly increased when compared with breathing at a normal air pressure. The therapy is well established in treatment of many conditions including serious infections, delayed wound healing due to diabetes or radiation injury, as well as burns and decompression sickness.
The NDP have seized on Moose Jaw's hyperbaric chamber as a political flashpoint for this election year, repeatedly emphasizing the lack of staffing that has led to the chamber being underused.
Hyperbaric treatments need to be repeated regularly, and the travel costs can add up quickly for out of province services. Brayden Dutchak's mother Tamara Heppner needs hyperbaric treatment following radiation treatments. Dutchak was present for the NDP press conference at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore on April 15, and he has made many appearances alongside NDP MLAs to bring pressure to bear on the Saskatchewan Health Authority to permanently and consistently staff Moose Jaw's facility.
Tim McLeod, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health answered questions about the hyperbaric chamber at the Legislative Building yesterday, saying that the partial resumption of services with the chamber was a recent development after recruiting a third respiratory therapist. Four respiratory therapists are needed to fully resume services.
“During the pandemic, respiratory therapists were in high demand, so they were transferred away from the hyperbaric chamber unit. We are actively restoring those services.”
He said that two individuals in Saskatchewan currently need use of hyperbaric services. “One of those individuals is receiving service through the partial resumption, and the other individual, to my understanding, is building a treatment plan together with their physician.”