Saskatchewan has introduced a new system to inform the public about emergency department closures in the province. The province’s service disruptions website will now update daily at 4 p.m. CST to provide information on current or upcoming emergency room closures within 24 hours. Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill emphasized that these updates aim to keep residents informed.
The Saskatchewan NDP has raised concerns about the new policy, alleging that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has altered the requirements to keep emergency rooms open. However, Cockrill denied these claims, stating that the changes are part of standardizing practices across the province following the amalgamation of regional health authorities.
According to Derek Miller, the SHA’s chief operating officer, the criteria to maintain an open emergency room include having at least one physician physically present or available through the province’s virtual program, operational lab services for diagnostics, and a minimum of two on-site nurses, with one being a registered nurse (RN).
The NDP Opposition continues to criticize the new criteria, referring to it as the “one nurse rule,” and expressing concerns about the impact on rural healthcare. Critics like Keith Jorgenson and Jared Clarke from the NDP have voiced worries about the safety and quality of care, with reports of health-care workers sharing similar apprehensions.
Despite the backlash, Cockrill defended the decision, emphasizing the importance of implementing consistent standards across the province while maintaining transparency. He stated that the goal is to ensure that emergency room disruptions are treated uniformly regardless of the location, emphasizing the need for fair and equitable practices.