Saskatchewan Health Authority shares Capacity Pressure Action Plan progress

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to make progress in addressing system-wide capacity pressures since launching its Saskatoon Capacity Pressure Action Plan (SCPAP) in November, and the Regina Capacity Pressure Action Plan (RCPAP) in December.

“Within the plans for both Saskatoon and Regina, we’re taking targeted measures to ensure we’re building not only hospital capacity, but community capacity,” said Derek Miller, Chief Operating Officer for the SHA. “We acknowledge that our health system continues to experience difficult and varied capacity challenges, but we also know these action plans are the right work to achieve our goals.”

In the 90 days since SCPAP was first announced and the nearly 60 days since RCPAP, the SHA has already hired or posted more than 280 permanent positions across the province, primarily in Saskatoon and Regina. The SHA has also added 116 hospital and community beds between Regina and Saskatoon, specifically within the following areas:

• 43 additional acute care beds and three (3) ICU beds at Royal University Hospital (RUH) in Saskatoon;
• Five (5) additional acute care beds at St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH) in Saskatoon;
• 32 transitional beds in Saskatoon;
• 27 additional beds in Regina’s Community-based Long-term Care program; and
• Six (6) hospice beds at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina.

Work is underway to identify locations in Regina and Saskatoon to add up to 400 transitional, convalescent and long-term care beds, along with a complete needs assessment of inpatient and long-term bed capacity given the province’s current demand and future growth.

“Our collective focus has been to add staff and beds, while beginning to build some capacity in the appropriate care environments to better support patients in getting the care they need,” said John Ash, Vice-President, Integrated Saskatoon Health for the SHA. “Though we’re already seeing encouraging results, we know some of the work identified will take time to achieve sustained success.”

While short- and medium-term actions are underway, collaboration and consultations continues with Ministry of Health, staff and physicians, and others to implement systemic changes that will address capacity pressures not only in Saskatoon and Regina, but across the province. This includes additional recruitment and improving transitions into community from hospital.

“We know from conversations we’ve had with staff that we are on the right track, though there is still much more to do,” said Sheila Anderson, Vice-President of Integrated Regina Health for the SHA. “We are so appreciative of all staff for their commitment to move these action plans forward under less than ideal conditions.”

The SHA recognizes that the capacity pressure action plan work must ensure care teams, system leaders and partners are part of the identification, planning and implementation of needed solutions.

“We have every confidence through the ideas and efforts of our highly skilled staff – including nurses, paramedics, physicians and others – that together we can make a difference for the sake of our patients, clients and their families,” said Miller. “We thank each of them for their professionalism and ongoing dedication to patient safety and care. The SHA would not be able to address these historic capacity challenges without their support and hard work.”