Dear Editor:
Last summer Andy Iwanchuk, NDP labour critic and I, as the NDP health critic, toured the province visiting smaller communities and their long-term care homes, health centers, and hospitals.
As a continuation of that tour I visited the Yorkton Regional Hospital and Melville's St Paul's Lutheran Home on July 28, 2011 at the suggestion of Chad Blenkin, the NDP candidate in Yorkton.
The Yorkton hospital itself was a pleasant surprise-it was well maintained, clean, and bright.
Newer units like Hemodialysis and even those not so new, like Intensive Care, were particularly impressive.
There was, however, a concern expressed by many citizens that was confirmed. One medical ward with 16 beds had recently closed as there was not enough staff to keep the unit open!
On further investigation I found that the Sunrise Health region has the 3rd highest vacancy rate for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in particular, only behind Saskatoon and Regina!
There doesn't seem to be a focus to recruit or retain qualified staff. Instead, the region has chosen to do closures. Given that the region has reached its targeted 2011 budget at the expense of services, including closing 45 long-term care beds in the region, citizens of Yorkton were getting concerned.
On many of the hospital units I visited, the talk was about needing more staff. The Sunrise Health Region has some serious work to do in its recruiting and retention efforts. Managing its budget by not filling nurse vacancies does not serve the Yorkton and area communities very well.
Closing 45 long-term care beds in the region is also a huge concern. The Yorkton-Melville region has one of the largest elderly populations in the province. With more long-term care beds closed this could mean many will have to live apart from their families in separate facilities in the years to come.
In the next few weeks I will be continuing my tour in Preeceville and Canora to get a good look at the delivery of services in those smaller communities.
Thanks to the Sunrise Health Region for arranging the tour and to the staff for their comments and helpful suggestions.
Judy Junor
MLA Saskatoon Eastview
NDP Health Critic
