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Sask. health region merger still shrouded in uncertainty

Some northern Saskatchewan residents are unsure of what to expect when the provincial government amalgamates all health regions into a single authority covering the entire province.
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Some northern Saskatchewan residents are unsure of what to expect when the provincial government amalgamates all health regions into a single authority covering the entire province.

Last March, the Saskatchewan government tabled legislation to move to a single authority for the province’s health system, following the lead of Alberta, which made the same move in 2008.

The province says its plan, set to take effect sometime this fall, is meant to improve frontline patient care and coordination of health services, and to “break down geographic boundaries and service
silos, to provide more
consistent and coordinated health care services across the province.”

“It will also increase efficiencies and reduce duplication in the health system,” the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health said in a statement to The Reminder.

That efficiency includes an estimated $18 million in savings with the removal of 12 regional executive branches, each of which includes a CEO and an average of five vice-presidents.

The new provincewide health authority will be based in Saskatoon. Members of the executive leadership will also be based in Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and other major communities.

An advisory board of directors has been appointed to guide the transition, which will include the completion of unresolved administrative work before the change, and to communicate with stakeholders within the system to plan the conversion.

Northern Saskatchewan’s Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region includes Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Sandy Bay and Deschambault Lake, among other communities.

Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette, a New Democrat, says the governing Saskatchewan Party is leaving its residents in the dark when it comes to the transition and what the new system will look like.

“It’s extremely concerning for families,” he said. “The Sask Party has not been up front or transparent throughout the entire process and it has become quite clear that they don’t have a plan. They are saying to just trust them, but more and more this is looking like it’s simply a cut to make up for years of mismanagement, scandal and waste.”

Like prominent Saskatchewan unions, Vermette has concerns the new system may lead to job and service cuts.

“We’re seeing, more and more, that this process is all about Sask Party cuts and taking away the local voices from health regions,” he said.

The ministry said it has made no decisions on staffing or facility reductions. It noted the new provincial
health region must maintain a strong connection to people throughout Saskatchewan.

“Management and support services will continue to be located across the province to support delivery of high quality and consistent frontline health care services for Saskatchewan people, wherever they live,” the ministry’s statement read. “While the head office will be located in Saskatoon, it is important to note that administration will not be centralized there and jobs will continue to be located throughout Saskatchewan.”

This includes keeping the Mamawetan Churchill Health Region’s current management and support services in La Ronge, the ministry said.

Four years after Alberta switched to a single health authority, a provincial health quality council found the system was suffering from long emergency room waits and political interference.

The Alberta Health Task Force followed up on the council’s findings and suggested the single authority’s function at that time was leading to “blurred lines of accountability and authority.”

“We are using the lessons learned from other jurisdictions, including Alberta and Nova Scotia, to inform transition planning so similar issues do not arise here,” the Saskatchewan ministry said. “In the case of Alberta, the lack of a clear organizational structure was identified as a major issue.

“We have taken the time to engage with the health system in planning, including organizational structure, and will work closely with the new CEO and advisory board of directors on in-depth planning in coming weeks to ensure a strong organizational structure is implemented.”

The ministry added the new authority is entertaining system-wide improvements to better coordinate its services, including the improvement of access for people living in northern Saskatchewan.

Vermette isn’t confident this is happening.

“It’s concerning that there still isn’t a focus on the needs of the North,” he said. “We will continue to hold the Sask Party accountable for their actions on this front.

“There are many unique challenges in the North, like the youth suicide crisis, and we need the Sask Party to take these issues seriously instead of providing lip service and broken promises.”

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