Saskatchewan will soon move to one province-wide health authority, but officials say the change will not mean a change in services.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will officially come into effect on Dec. 4. All existing health regions in the province will be abolished to make way for the SHA, which will be headquartered in Saskatoon.
As part of the change, the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region, which services Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Sandy Bay and other area communities, will fold, with all front-line positions within the region rolled into the SHA.
While the change appears big on paper, Saskatchewan’s health ministry says those in need of care will see few changes in hospitals and clinics.
“When the SHA launches on Dec. 4, 2017, there will be no changes to health care programs, services, facilities or phone numbers. Residents can continue to access care in the same way as they always have,” said an official from the provincial Ministry of Health.
“In-scope employees will experience little to no difference and will continue to carry out their day-to-day functions as usual. Out-of-scope staff will be transitioned in alignment with the SHA leadership structure and the determined functions of the VP portfolios.”
Present agreements between Flin Flon General Hospital and Saskatchewan health organizations will be honoured once the SHA is introduced. This means that Saskatchewan residents can continue to use medical facilities in Flin Flon under the same rules and contracts currently in place.
The real changes will come at the executive level, where existing health authority boards will be removed in favour of a single, province-wide group.
“For the most part, reporting relationships below the CEO level (those reporting to a Vice President, Executive Director, Director or Manager) will remain unchanged on day one. If there is a change, these employees will be informed directly,” said the health ministry statement.
Dick Carter, the chair of the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, has been named as the chairperson of the SHA’s board, along with 10 other members. Out of the remaining board members, only one – Pinehouse Lake-based school principal Rosalena Smith – hails from northern Saskatchewan.
Current Mamawetan Churchill River CEO Andrew McLetchie was named as the SHA’s first vice-president of Integrated Northern Health last week. No executive members from Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Deschambault Lake or Sandy Bay have been named as of Friday.
