Delisle & District Health Council public meeting discusses the state of Local Rural Healthcare

In recent months the Delisle and District Heath Council (DDHC) and the Delisle Inter Agency Group (DIAG) expressed concerns about the lack of a physician and Nurse Practitioner services available at the Delisle Primary Health Centre since the retirement of the physician in 2019. For a short period of time the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) had provides an additional 75% NP services in the absence of a physician to only discontinue the services a year later. The recruitment of a physician to practise out of the local health centre has to date not been successful.

On March 3, 2023, the DDHC hosted a Town Hall Meeting to discuss health care concerns in Delisle and the district. Thanks go to: the Delisle Senior Citizens Club for the donation of the hall and assisting with setup and teardown: the local Delisle Coop for their donation of coffee; Colleen Carr for the donation of her sound system.

The front panel consisted of: moderator Deb Winder, Delisle Town Councillor and Chair of the DDHC; Carla Beck, MLA for Regina Lakeview, Leader of the Opposition; Vicki Mowat, MLA for Saskatoon Fairview and Opposition Deputy Leader, Critic for Health and Mental Health and Addictions; Matt Love, MLA for Saskatoon Eastview, Opposition Caucus Chair, and Critic for Rural and Remote Health, Seniors and Addictions.

All the panel members made opening remarks before Ms. Winder read the comments sent by Hon. Everett Hindley, Ministers of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health. In part he stated that in addition to the existing full time Nurse Practitioner (NP), the SHA is hiring a NP to provide services in Delisle an additional two days a week. Interviews are underway. Officials will be monitoring utilization of NP services in Delisle so that further increases can be implemented in the future based on the data.

The public was then encouraged to share their concerns about health care in our area. The panel was given an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised. Community concerns included the need to restore services to where they have been in the past not just an additional 40% NP. Comments were made about the value of our present NP. The clinic needs to be accepting new patients. The new NP will be working through the present waiting list but we anticipate the waiting list to increase. Some would like to see the Health Centre be expanded to a walk-in clinic.

Others were not completely aware of all the services that the Health Centre offers and others brought up concerns about Home Care in our area and the needto-know what services are now offered. Also discussed were additional services required like food prep and light housekeeping. This led to a discussion about Seniors Care and the gaps in the personal and long-term care needs.

Hospital services were discussed including ambulance attendants sitting in emergency rooms because the hospitals are short staffed. Wait times in emergency rooms and having to lay in a bed in the hallway due to lack of space in hospitals.

The LEAN program implemented in hospitals was discussed. The concern is that it has left hospitals working with the minimum of staff and often end up working short staffed or having to pay out overtime to an excess.

The transition between SHA and Social Services for children with special needs as they become adults and need to rely on different support systems. There appears to be a disconnect.

The NDP critics have been having town halls in many centres across the province. They reassured the citizens present that they would take the concerns to the government. They did have some petitions available for endorsement.

The DDHC will promote the services available at the Health Centre and continue to advocate on behalf of the Delisle and District. And they will continue to encourage everyone to use the local services available.

Submitted by Deb Winder DDHC Chair