SARM calls for more rural medical support, noting it would help urban centres | 24CA News
As health-care issues proceed in Saskatchewan, a voice for smaller communities stated extra must be addressed in rural components of the province.
“It’s really an integrated system, and when part of the system fails it puts pressure on the other one. So we believe if more can be done in rural Saskatchewan, we can actually take pressure off the larger urban centres,” stated Ray Orb, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM).
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Orb stated they’ve seen plenty of emergency centres shut in rural areas.
He added that there’s poor communication between the Saskatchewan Health Authority and rural municipality residents so far as delivering care.
“We know there are physician shortages out there in rural Saskatchewan, and really across the province.”
He stated there’s a scarcity of nurses as nicely.
“People really are forced to travel to urban centres, and we believe more can be done in the rural areas to help alleviate the problem.”
Orb stated this turns into an issue throughout seeding and harvest, noting that farm accidents are a priority, and lots of paramedics are wrapped up with sufferers at hospitals.
Minister of Health Paul Merriman stated he has reached out to Orb to debate a few of the points he introduced up.
“We know there are some disruptions in rural Saskatchewan. I think we’ve made some strides forward in the last six months as reopening some (ERs) that were disrupted during COVID-19, and we had to replace some of the staff,” Merriman stated.
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He agreed that if points in rural Saskatchewan don’t get addressed, it would roll over into city centres, creating extra stress on hospital capability.
Merriman stated over the past 18 months, the province is up 160 docs, however added that there are nonetheless staffing challenges.
“There are still some gaps that we’ve identified,” Merriman stated.
“We just had last week three Filipino nurses that had arrived in Regina and went out to western Saskatchewan into Swift Current, East, and areas where we had some gaps.”
He stated they’re actively recruiting specialists in Saskatchewan, and have been for a very long time, noting they introduced over about 62 specialists within the final two years.
“When we have a lack in one specific area then we actively recruit.”
He stated they’ll additionally make agreements with different provinces to ship sufferers out if they’ll’t supply a therapy within the province.
“Which isn’t ideal, but at least they’re still getting their treatment.”
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