Saskatchewan’s New Democrats continue to accuse the Sask Party Government of fostering a healthcare environment in rural communities that is “unreliable and dangerous.”
A release from the NDP lists the communities that have experienced closures and disruptions over the past two weeks. They include Watrous, Edam, St. Walburg, Paradise Hill, Kipling, Broadview, Herbert, Porcupine Planes, Preeceville, Shellbrook, Leader and Arcola.
“And those are just the ones we know of,” said Keith Jorgenson, Saskatchewan NDP Associate Shadow Health Minister. “The truth is the Sask. Party tries to hide its failures in healthcare. We hear from people who arrive at these facilities desperately seeking care only to find a sign on the door saying it’s closed.
It is unbelievable that the Sask. Party sits on its hands while rural emergency rooms — which could be the difference between life and death — close without warning. This shouldn’t be happening and, when it unfortunately does, there needs to be more than a sign on the door telling people. Someone is going to die rushing to an emergency room that isn’t even open.”
As previously reported, the Town of Watrous has resorted to posting emergency room updates on Facebook to keep the community informed. The NDP release states that residents say they’re often unaware of the closures until they arrive at the hospital.
“We’ve counted more than 30 closures at the Watrous emergency room since the year began — and still the local Sask. Party MLA, the Minister, the Premier, nobody says a thing. This isn’t leadership, it’s cowardice, stated Jorgenson during a press statement of July 8.
The release also notes that the emergency room Kipling is currently closed for 10 days, according to a sign on the door of the facility.