Saskatchewan
Last Thursday, on the last day of the fall session of the Saskatchewan legislature, the government was asked about reduced emergency services at a number of small rural hospitals, and Premier Brad Wall alluded to the two Collaborative Emergency Centres the government has opened, adopting the Nova Scotia model. “I think rural Saskatchewan and those communities are encouraged by this development. It speaks to the innovation we’re going to bring to ensure that rural Saskatchewan gets the health care that it deserves,” he said.
Manitoba
Rural hospital emergency services were again an issue in the Manitoba legislature last Thursday, also the last day of the fall sitting. Progressive Conservative MLA Wayne Ewasko said there are 20 ERs closed across the province with rural ambulances missing their targets almost half the time, a situation he said is bound to get worse with the suspension of the STARS air ambulance helicopter service while an external review into a number of mishaps is underway. Health Minister Erin Selby said the government is working with STARS “to see when we can best restore service.”
(Health Edition, December 13, 2013)
