‘Will save lives’: Sask. NDP push to get ER ‘Right to Know’ bill approved

Too many people are showing up in Regina emergency rooms when they should be heading to a walk-in clinic or their doctor’s office, health officials say.

A bill that seeks publish real-time emergency closures has passed its second reading, but the Saskatchewan NDP is pushing to get it approved quicker.

During legislative assembly on Tuesday, NDP MLA Jared Clarke called on Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill to pass the bill right away.

“It has been 173 days since I introduced Bill 606, requiring the public health authority to publish information in real time on emergency room closures. This is information that the Sask. Party has had at its fingertips for 173 days now,” he said. “I was hopeful when the government supported Bill 606 at second reading, but yesterday, the health minister said he needed more time to review it.”

• Saskatchewan ‘Right to Know’ ER closures act clears latest hurdle

In response, Cockrill said his government voted to pass the second reading because they agree with the principle that patients should have access to reliable and accurate information. However, he said there are certain steps that need to be taken before the bill can be put into place.

“Much of what’s already in that bill is already being operationalized by the Saskatchewan Health Authority,” he said.

“To operationalize these policies, it’s not just writing a paragraph in a bill, there’s actually multiple things that need to happen. We’ll continue discussions with the Saskatchewan Health Authority on how we continue to provide that information to patients.”

Clarke said legislation of this nature “could save lives,” and pushed for the government to expedite the process.

“We are hearing from so many people across this province that they want this bill passed, and they want it passed now,” he said.

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Cockrill reiterated that there is a process that needs to be done before the bill can be passed, and that discussions are underway with the SHA and the Ministry of Health. He also called attention to the Health Human Resources Action Plan as his focus for helping patients.

“You know what does save lives? Training more nurses, hiring more nurses, training more doctors, hiring more doctors in this province, that’s what this government’s focused on. That’s what I’m focused on. That’s what’s best for patients,” he said.

Clarke referenced a closure in Turtleford, Sask. that he claimed was not updated on the website.

“Just last night, the minister’s super duper ambitious notification website missed another closure in Turtleford, Saskatchewan. Bill 606 will save lives and I’m proud to support it,” he said.

“People in rural Saskatchewan shouldn’t need to play Russian Roulette when they’re searching for an open ER.”

Cockrill said he’s had the opportunity to meet with some of the leaders in Turtleford to discuss some of the challenges facing the community.

“What we need to stay focused on is training and hiring more physicians and nurses,” he said. “That is putting patients first.”