The emergency room at the Radville Marian Health Centre has had 40 service disruptions since the start of 2025. Of these closures, 11 have been attributed to a nurse shortage, 14 to a doctor shortage, and 15 had no specified reason. The most recent closure was overnight Thursday, the fourth disruption of the week.
To help mitigate closures due to staffing issues, a virtual physician program was introduced at the Radville Marian Health Centre in late 2024. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) lists the program as one of its strategies aimed at stabilizing services, and it is in use at more than 20 facilities in the province. However, the program requires trained staff to be on duty for it to be operational.
In response to an interview request, the SHA outlined in a written statement its official communication strategy for notifying the public of such disruptions.
The health authority has shifted its approach away from posting all disruptions on its website, stating that traffic on the page was low and it "proved to be an ineffective means of communication in real time". Instead, the SHA now prioritizes local communication methods for short-term closures.
According to the written response, the SHA stated it has found that using "local platforms, such as town and RM websites and social media channels" is the most effective way to reach residents in a timely manner. In Radville specifically, the Marian Health Centre contacts the RM of Laurier and the Town of Radville, who put it on their Facebook pages. The Town of Radville also issues these notifications through a local, opt-in messaging system.
Only service disruptions lasting seven days or longer are posted on the SHA website. The practice of posting all disruptions is no longer used, with the statement citing minimal traffic to the website as a key reason.
For individuals who arrive at a facility during a temporary closure, the SHA stated that information is posted at the facility detailing where patients can access care. The health authority reminds residents that in the event of a medical emergency, they should call 911. When 911 is called, paramedics can assess, treat, and transport a patient to the nearest available facility for care. For non-urgent health advice, residents can call 811 at any time.