Saskatchewan Health Authority enhancing patient care with more staff, more beds from Saskatoon and Regina Capacity Pressure Action Plans

156 New Staff, 206 New Beds Highlighted During Capacity Pressure Action Plan Update

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is focused on improving patient outcomes and easing capacity pressures in both Saskatoon and Regina through the ongoing implementation of the Saskatoon and Regina Capacity Pressures Action Plans. Since the initial implementation of the Action Plans, the SHA has hired more than 156 additional Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff in Saskatoon and Regina, including more than 60 additional nursing positions. Efforts are underway to recruit an additional 290 FTE staff in Saskatoon and Regina, including an additional 107 FTE nurses.

As part of the Saskatoon and Regina Capacity Pressure Action Plans, the SHA is announcing the addition of 206 beds in community settings to better facilitate discharge and care transitions for patients from acute care to appropriate care settings.

“The actions that have been implemented through the Capacity Pressure Action Plans are having a meaningful impact on our ability to address capacity pressures in our largest urban centres,” said CEO Andrew Will. “We are committed to continuing to support and listen to our staff and physicians, who have provided excellent care to patients throughout the current capacity pressures.”

Actions that the SHA has taken through the implementation of the Capacity Pressure Action Plans have been planned in close coordination with the Ministry of Health, and are enabled by an additional investment of $30 million provided in the recently announced 2024-25 Provincial Budget. Budget 2024-25 included total budget funding for the SHA of $4.681 billion, an increase of 5.6 per cent.

The SHA has successfully achieved several of the immediate and medium-term initiatives identified in the Capacity Pressure Action Plans, and work is ongoing to advance a complete needs assessment of inpatient bed capacity for both Saskatoon and Regina. This needs assessment will provide the SHA with a better understanding of how to optimize current and future system capacity given the province’s current and projected population growth.

Saskatoon Specifics – SHA Announces 159 New Beds in Community Settings

As part of the Saskatoon Capacity Pressure Action Plan, the SHA is announcing that an additional 84 long-term care beds will be added in Saskatoon by mid-June, 2024. These 84 long-term care beds are in addition to 75 convalescent care beds that have been added in Saskatoon since the initial launch of the Capacity Pressure Action Plan, providing a total of 159 beds added in community settings. These beds will serve to reduce pressure in acute facilities and better facilitate the delivery of appropriate care in the appropriate care setting.

Additional actions taken include:

• The recruitment and hiring of 140 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff. This includes an additional 55 nurse FTEs, 15 security officer FTEs, and 70 FTEs of various designations including therapists, continuing care aids, environmental service workers, unit support workers, homecare schedulers and pharmacists.
• Recruitment efforts are underway to fill an additional 245 FTE staff positions of various designations, including 89 more nursing FTEs.
• A total of 75 convalescent care beds have been added to expand community capacity, with 68 of these beds currently occupied.
• Of the 84 new long-term care beds, 40 beds are projected to be operational by May 1, 2024, with the remaining 44 beds projected to be operational by June 3, 2024.
• The SHA continues to operate an additional 43 acute care beds and 8 EMS off load beds at Royal University Hospital, along with an additional 5 acute care beds at St. Paul’s hospital.
• The SHA has developed a successful partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council resulting in collaborative efforts to help divert more than 650 individuals from St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH) to other primary care or shelter locations from December 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024.

Regina Specifics – SHA Announces 47 New Beds in Community Settings, Including 20 Transitional Care Beds at Regina Lutheran Home

As part of the Regina Capacity Pressure Action Plan, the SHA is announcing the addition of 20 permanent transitional beds, to be located at a currently vacant wing of Regina Lutheran Home, a long-term care facility recently acquired by the SHA with support of the Government of Saskatchewan. The 20 transitional beds at Regina Lutheran Home will be operational in May 2024, representing net-new capacity. This is in addition to 27 previously announced Community-Based beds in Regina, providing the SHA with an additional injection of 47 beds to facilitate discharge and care transitions for patients from acute care to appropriate care settings.

Additional actions taken include:

• The recruitment and hiring of 16 FTE staff. This includes 5 FTE nurses and 11 FTEs of various designations.
• Recruitment efforts are underway to fill an additional 46 FTE staff, including an additional 18 FTE nursing positions. This includes all staff needed to operate the 20 new transitional beds at Regina Lutheran Home.
• The 27 additional community-based long-term care beds will be phased in over the coming months, with six of these beds already operational.
• In partnership with the Ministries of Health and Social Services, 20 new supportive housing spaces have been opened at Newo Yotina Friendship Centre for individuals with complex needs.
• The development of the Regina Urgent Care Centre (UCC) is on track, with operations scheduled to commence in summer 2024. The Regina UCC will add an innovative new care option to Regina residents, providing 24/7 urgent health services for illness, injuries, and mental health issues requiring same-day treatment.
• In conjunction with the Ministries of Health and SaskBuilds and Procurement, the SHA has recently posted two RFPs for an additional 220 standardized LTC beds, in addition to the previously committed 240 specialized LTC beds. Together, these will add significant LTC capacity to meet current and future growth demands in the Regina area.

The SHA remains committed to addressing capacity pressures currently facing Saskatchewan’s health system, and we appreciate the diligent efforts of staff and physicians in providing high-quality health services to Saskatchewan patients every day. During the ongoing implementation of the Saskatoon and Regina Capacity Pressure Action Plans, the SHA will continue to engage with our staff and physicians to hear their ideas and perspective on our ongoing efforts to reduce capacity pressures throughout the system.