Question Period (15 April 2024)

From Hansard (15 April 2024)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 2:04:25 PM.

 Health Care Staffing and Usage of Hyperbaric Chamber

Mr. Clarke: — I’ll just remind the Premier, 53 hospital closures under his watch as Premier. That’s the fact. You know, it’s a good thing that Brayden’s mom is able to get the care at the hyperbaric chamber, but it’s a crying shame that nobody else in Saskatchewan can because of the short-staffing crisis that this government has created.

Health care workers are not being heard by this tired and out-oftouch government, and it’s long past time that the Sask Party take responsibility for the damage that they have done. Will the minister do that today? It’s been three years, Mr. Speaker. When will the hyperbaric chamber in Moose Jaw be fully operational for all of Saskatchewan people?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier said in his previous answer, we are aware through the SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority] that there are two patients in Saskatchewan seeking treatment at the hyperbaric chamber. One is currently receiving that treatment and the other, to our understanding, Mr. Speaker, is meeting with their physician to build a treatment plan to receive treatment at the hyperbaric chamber.

Mr. Speaker, as the Premier said, we require a fourth respiratory therapist. That position is being recruited as we speak, Mr. Speaker. And once recruited, we’re anxious and excited to see that services at the Moose Jaw hyperbaric chamber fully resume. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Clarke: — Mr. Speaker, the government has said that the hyperbaric chamber is closed. No physicians know it’s closed, so why would they refer patients to the closed hyperbaric chamber? Patients are going out of province to get this care right now.

Their plan isn’t working. If it was, the firefighters wouldn’t have joined us today to say that more needs to be done. If it was working, Brayden wouldn’t be here saying that more needs to be done. Chronic short-staffing and burnout is driving health care workers out of our province, and it’s forcing patients out of our province too.

Does the minister think it’s acceptable for the hyperbaric chamber to be providing care to only one patient while some in Saskatchewan go to Alberta and the rest go without care?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, I would ask the member, who are the rest? We are aware of two patients that are seeking treatment from the hyperbaric chamber. One is currently receiving those treatments, and I thank Brayden for joining us here today. He has been a tireless advocate for services for his mother. And as the Premier indicated, I was happy to have correspondence together with Brayden about the situation.

Mr. Speaker, we are seeking a fourth respiratory therapist and, as soon as that individual is recruited, we will gladly see the services of the Moose Jaw hyperbaric chamber fully resumed. Thank you.

Mr. Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Saskatchewan people expect the care that they need to be there when and where they need it. But this tired and out-of-touch government has broken our health care system, and they’re not the ones up to fix it. They’ve had six years under this Premier to do it and they have failed. It’s time for a change, Mr. Speaker.

Does the Minister of Health take any responsibility for the mess the Sask Party has made to our health care system?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government’s health human resources action plan is one of the most ambitious plans in the country, if not the most ambitious, Mr. Speaker.

If the members opposite had spent a little more time listening and a little bit less time talking, they would have heard all of the positive results that we are seeing from the health human resources action plan, Mr. Speaker. Just last week we announced 232 new and enhanced full-time positions have been filled in the rural and remote areas, Mr. Speaker. More than 300 physicians are now working through our SIPPA [Saskatchewan international physician practice assessment] program, Mr. Speaker. One hundred and eighteen applications have been approved through the rural physician incentive program for up to $200,000, Mr. Speaker. We have 300 new full-time CCAs [continuing care aide] working in this province, Mr. Speaker. This plan is working and the results can be seen all across our province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The next section begins at 2:19:55 in the video link provided above.

Overdose Deaths and Treatment for Addictions

Mr. Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In the first three months of 2024, 113 people died of suspected overdose. It’s a shocking number. It’s one a day, more than one a day, Mr. Speaker — one mother, one father, a sister, a brother dying every single day this year.

Mr. Speaker, we need more than talking points and blame-casting to fix this crisis. We need solutions. We need to get people into treatment, and we need to keep people alive long enough to get there. Mr. Speaker, when will we see an evidence-based plan from that minister to stop the record-setting overdose deaths in our province?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, on this side of the House, we agree that action needs to be taken to address mental health and addictions, and that’s why we introduced an action plan on mental health and addictions in October of 2023, Mr. Speaker.

Since that time we have made announcements that directly impact individuals who are battling addiction, Mr. Speaker. We have introduced a provincial drug alert system. We have overdose outreach teams. We have a free naloxone take-home kit program that has trained more than 40,000 individuals to administer naloxone. And with that program, Mr. Speaker, 10,000 overdoses have been reversed. That’s 10,000 lives saved in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

The member opposite speaks about treatment. Absolutely we need individuals to reach treatment, and that’s why we are more than doubling the number of treatment spaces that we are offering in this province. We are making it easier for individuals to access those treatment spaces, Mr. Speaker. And when they are there, Mr. Speaker, we are wrapping supports around them through recovery-oriented systems of care so that we can save lives, heal families, and build stronger communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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