Readers offer their opinions on Saskatchewan health-care administration, a column on Saskatoon homelessness and Saskatchewan’s health-care system.
Anyone who has tried to navigate their way through our current health-care system is aware of the frustrations associated with it. From a patient perspective, timely access to care is impeded by short staffing and a shortage of physicians.
One in six Saskatchewan residents do not have access to a family doctor, which ultimately puts strain on our health-care facilities, emergency departments and walk-in clinics. Employee burnout is a very real consequence in health care today.
Fewer employees covering more areas of work are consistently receiving the short end of the stick. This, coupled with the inability to hire staff is rapidly creating the perfect storm.
What it fails to mention is that Saskatchewan has poured $240 million into an $86-million system. “Where other provinces failed, we will aim to succeed!” seems to be the thinking. That $156 million would have gone a long way towards resolving the current staffing crisis.
Rereleased in 2024, AIMS remains problematic, with problems ordering critical supplies, resulting in patient care delays. Payroll issues see employees receiving either incorrect or no pay.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority released a statement that payroll issues were affecting one per cent of employees. One per cent translates to 500 employees. Employees who, like the rest of us, live from paycheque to paycheque!
Implementing a volatile, unstable system into a patient care environment couldn’t possibly end well.
Martin Been, Saskatoon
Columnist guilty of ‘utter hypocrisy’
Never once has Mr. Tank championed for the safety of the hundreds of children living near the “wellness
centre” in Fairhaven. There are schools, daycare centres, autism services and other medical services in close proximity to this shelter.
The children in this area do not have the luxury of dealing with the chaos created by the shelter for only an hour or two. This is their home, and they are exposed to the chaos every day and night. Apparently only some children matter to Phil Tank.
Colleen Brauer, Saskatoon
Crowded ERs symptom of doctor shortage
Those individuals coming into emergency are coming for a variety of reasons, but they are a measure of the health of the Saskatoon community. They are a symptom of our ongoing physician shortage.
There needs to be available medical professionals to support individuals living with chronic diseases like heart failure, COPD, addiction and the list goes on.
Multidisciplinary clinics consisting of a variety of health professionals: occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physicians, dietitians and pharmacists are the model that is the most effective for chronic disease management.
We need to prevent the ongoing assault on our emergency rooms by offering good quality community based health care.
Donna Flahr, Saskatoon
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