Forty fresh acute care beds have been inaugurated at Saskatoon City Hospital as part of a significant expansion initiative aimed at alleviating strain across hospitals in Saskatoon. During a recent press briefing, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill emphasized the importance of this move in augmenting hospital capacity and enhancing patient flow in Saskatchewan’s primary urban center.
The recently opened 40-bed unit marks the initial phase of a broader scheme to introduce 109 new acute care beds at City Hospital by the conclusion of 2026. This expansion is anticipated to boost Saskatoon’s hospital capacity by approximately 14%. These additional beds are included in a $60 million investment spread across two provincial budgets to enhance inpatient capacity and support the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s strategies to address capacity constraints in Saskatoon and Regina.
According to SHA CEO Andrew Will, the augmented capacity is vital for enhancing patient movement, particularly in congested emergency departments. Will emphasized that by enlarging both acute and continuing care capacity, they are tackling the root causes of pressure within the healthcare system.
The action plan to address capacity constraints in Saskatoon, initiated in late 2023, has already led to a 22% decrease in patients awaiting continuing-care spaces in hospitals and a 17% reduction in admitted patients awaiting inpatient beds in emergency rooms.
To accommodate the new units, certain outpatient and continuing-care programs are being relocated from City Hospital to community setups, including Market Mall. Once the full expansion is finalized, the SHA plans to recruit over 500 additional staff, with 150 positions already filled, as per the government’s announcement.
The announcement of the new beds comes shortly after the early closure of City Hospital’s emergency department due to unforeseen circumstances. Cockrill clarified that this closure was a one-time occurrence caused by unexpected physician unavailability, and the province is actively offering incentives to attract ER doctors and recruiting physicians locally and internationally to address such issues.
The Opposition NDP has criticized the government’s enthusiasm regarding the new beds, considering the ongoing hospital staffing challenges and recent closures. The NDP’s associate shadow health minister, Keith Jorgenson, expressed disbelief at the government’s positive narrative on healthcare amidst recent operational disruptions at City Hospital, highlighting the need for a coherent plan to bolster frontline healthcare staff.