Province sets July opening date for new emergency care center in Regina

A new urgent care centre in Regina will open its doors to patients on July 2, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

The announcement was made Wednesday for the facility, located at 1320 Albert Street. The province says it will provide emergency care for patients with non-life-threatening injuries, mental health support and some illnesses.

The facility was first announced in December as part of the province’s Regina Capacity Pressure Action Plan, aimed at reducing hospital overcrowding and eliminating hallway hospital care.

The facility will open in two phases. The first phase will allow patients to receive care from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. CST, seven days a week. The second phase is scheduled for the fall and will provide 24-hour care.

“This new model of care features physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, technicians and other allied health professionals working together as one team,” said Derek Miller, SHA’s chief operating officer.

Miller said the urgent care center is expected to divert at least 20,000 patient visits per year from hospitals in Regina. That means the center can expect to see about 55 patients per day. Miller said that’s based on “initial projections and historical data from the emergency department.”

Staffing problems persist, union says

The union representing more than 13,000 health care workers in the province said the move to provide more emergency care was welcome but the timeline was unsatisfactory.

CUPE 5430 said in a statement that it only discovered on Wednesday that the July 2 opening date would not include 24-hour care. It also said that July 2 is already a later date than originally planned.

The statement said the center has been struggling with staffing problems since the early planning stages.

“This project is another example of how the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the provincial government are focused on creating new buildings with little regard for the health care workers who will work in them,” the statement said.

CUPE 5430 President Bashire Jalloh told CBC that most of the staff at the facility will be transferred from Pasqua Hospital and Regina General Hospital. This move will only lead to more staff shortages.

“There are no new staff coming to the province,” he said. “Right now we have a chronic staffing problem at both the General Hospital and the Pasqua Hospital.”

Miller said the center has hired 116 employees and is aiming for a full staff of 125.

NDP health critic Vicki Mowat criticized the province for not completing staffing before the opening date.

“Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are chasing health care workers out of the province, so I’m not surprised they can’t find staff for a facility that’s been completed since April. This facility is supposed to be open 24/7 and there’s no timeline yet for when that will happen,” she said in a statement.

Province also focuses on nursing homes to relieve pressure

As part of the Saskatoon Capacity Pressure Action Plan, the provincial government signed a five-year agreement with three private nursing homes to care for patients.

Miller confirmed that Regina has taken similar measures to address overcrowding and continue emergency care.

“We have set up 20 transitional care beds in Regina at the Regina Lutheran Home. This is to allow us to transfer patients who are currently in the hospital and do not require hospital care,” he said.

Some families raised concerns about the way the program was implemented in Saskatoon. One private home in Warman was removed from the program after health and safety violations were found during an inspection.

The SHA also recently purchased the nursing home from Eden Care Communities to prevent the facility from closing.

Miller said the transitional beds at the nursing home have been in use in recent weeks.