Saskatchewan’s largest city now has 80 new acute care beds, across three hospitals. The expansion includes 36 acute inpatient beds at Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital, 24 at St. Paul’s Hospital, and 20 medicine beds at Saskatoon City Hospital. The 80 new beds have brought the total over the last 12 months to 120. “Expanding access to care means investing in the people, spaces and services that patients rely on,” said Premier Scott Moe in a Tuesday media release. “By increasing hospital capacity and supporting better patient outcomes, we are delivering on our commitment to put patients first and build a stronger health system for Saskatchewan families.” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill says the beds mark an important milestone for the city and province. “We are improving access to high-quality care, reducing pressure on our emergency departments, adding capacity and ensuring patients receive the right care, in the right place as close to home as possible,” Cockrill said. The province says the new beds are supported by a $73M investment this fiscal year. The goal is to reduce pressure on emergency departments and reduce delays in hospital admissions. The additional 20 medicine beds at City Hospital complete the province’s planned expansion of 60 new beds at the hospital. The goal is to have another 49 open by March 2027. “These additional beds will help us meet growing patient needs, support patient care throughout the health system, and enhance the care experience for patients and families,” says Saskatchewan Health Authority COO Derek Miller. The province says all required positions for the 60 new beds at City Hospital have been filled, and over 150 permanent full-time positions were added at RUH and St. Pauls in support of the new beds.
