Some babies requiring surgery in Regina now to go to Saskatoon: health authority memo

A leaked memo says some babies needing surgery or anesthesia in Regina will be sent to Saskatoon for treatment under a new SHA policy. Wayne Mantyka reports.

REGINA — Saskatchewan health officials say Regina newborns with complex needs or who need specialized surgery are being sent to Saskatoon.

The rules came into effect earlier this month, and Dr. Mike Kelly, the head of surgery at the Saskatchewan Health Authority, says it applies to newborns, premature infants and medically complex babies.

Kelly said doctors were only dealing with about one to two such cases a month in Regina. He said the low number was a problem as doctors need to perform the specialized work to keep their skills sharp.

“Pediatric anesthesia is a difficult to recruit subspecialty and maintaining safety requires sufficient case volumes to preserve skills and safety,” Kelly said.

“When case volumes are low, it becomes difficult for providers to maintain the exposure and skills required to safely manage these patients.”

Dr. Mateen Raazi, the provincial head of anesthesiology, said the decision had nothing to do with shortages of anesthesiologists, as they have found people to find temporary help as required.

“The request (to make this decision) came from our Regina colleagues here practising within Regina,’” Raazi said.

Anesthesiologists are doctors who specialize in administering anesthesia and advise on pain management during surgery or other medical procedures.

The rules say babies older than 48 weeks post-conception – which is about two months old for a full-term baby -- and don’t require intensive care after their operation will continue to have surgeries in Regina.

The announcement came after Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP obtained and publicized a leaked copy of the memo outlining the change.

Health critic Meara Conway told reporters the move is unacceptable, arguing infants deserve immediate emergency health care in Regina. She said she’s also concerned transporting already at-risk babies could put them in further medical distress.

“Often this transportation can take hours to arrange,” Conway said. “I’m being told that babies will die. I’m hearing that this is now a real possibility for these critically ill babies.”

Dr. Alan Beggs, the deputy chief medical officer in Regina, said health-care teams are equipped to transfer infants safely.

Staff will also work to ensure those expecting to deliver a baby with complications are in Saskatoon’s Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital beforehand, he added.

“Our transport teams are exceptional and do this work on an ongoing basis. Is it complex? Does it take time to arrange safely? Absolutely it does,” he said.

At the legislature, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill told the assembly that cases involving such babies are low.

“Maintaining safe care requires volume for our professionals to do that,” he said.

“This is exactly why this government took the step of investing in the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, so we could attract these pediatric specialists.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2026.

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press