Question no. 23 (Ms. Wilson):

To the Minister of Health, facilities designated as a regional hospital must provide to in-patients and out-patients basic radiography and laboratory services, emergency stabilization services, surgical services, obstetrical services, and orthopaedics and rehabilitation services; for each month since January 2020 to present,

(a) how many disruptions due to COVID-19 interrupted client/patient intake,

(b) how many disruptions affected service to out-patients,

(c) how many in-patients experienced disruptions in their services due to staff shortages, and

(d) how many staff shortages were due to the COVID-19 health restrictions?

Answer: Monday, March 7, 2022

(a) There are six regional hospitals in Saskatchewan. There were no disruptions to inpatient admissions for regional hospital level care services due to COVID-19 from January 2020 to present. All patients who present to a regional hospital and require inpatient care services will be admitted.

(b) According to Saskatchewan Health Authority data tracking, since January 2020, approximately 58 instances of service slowdowns occurred at regional hospitals that relate to outpatients that vary in duration. By month they are listed below: •May 2020 – 1 disruption; •July 2020 – 1 disruption; •December 2020 – 14 disruptions; •January 2021 – 10 disruptions; •April 2021 – 5 disruptions; •September 2021 – 20 disruptions; •October 2021 – 1 disruption; •6 disruptions with no start date listed; •0 disruptions for all other months during the specified timeframe.

(c) There are six regional hospitals in Saskatchewan. There were no disruptions to inpatient admissions for regional hospital level care services due to COVID-19 from January 2020 to present. All patients who present to a regional hospital and require inpatient care services will be admitted.

(d) SHA is not able to report staff shortages due to COVID-19 health restriction