Repatriation of La Loche and Ile-la-Crosse patients, LTC residents to start

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has begun the process of returning acute care patients and long-term care residents to the Ile-a-la Crosse and La Loche health centres. The patient and resident moves will take place over the next several days.

“The SHA acknowledges the impact the wildfires have had on the on the communities of La Loche and Ile-a-la Crosse, and how the return of patients and long-term care residents is important for them and their families,” said Jessica Campbell, Executive Director Primary Care, Integrated Northern Health. “We want to recognize the work of the teams throughout the province who have been providing long-term care and acute care to evacuees. We also want to thank the staff and physicians who remained in La Loche and Ile-a-la Crosse for maintaining emergency room coverage for those communities.”

Patients, residents and families will be informed about their specific plans for repatriation to Ile-a-la Crosse and La Loche.

“As health care delivery returns to normal, we want to thank the community and local Indigenous leadership for their support, both during the evacuation and as we start to return to community,” said Julia Pemberton, Vice-President Integrated Northern Health. “We also want to extend our appreciation of the work of our many other partners, including our physicians, our SHA facilities in the south who supported our evacuees, as well as  Rise Air, Ground Emergency Medical Services, EMS Medical Communication and Coordination Centers, Provincial Air Coordination Center as Saskatchewan Air Ambulance, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, and many others who were instrumental in supporting evacuees.”