SASKATOON – According to the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS), health regions across our province lack accountability.
The union released the results of a public opinion survey it commissioned: it finds only 22 per cent of respondents have ‘high confidence’ that their health region is improving, and 39 per cent of respondents said they had to wait longer than expected to access service or get an appointment.
The survey also finds health care is rated as the most important issue facing Saskatchewan residents.
HSAS president Karen Wasylenko said health regions continue to make poor management decisions, pointing to last week’s decision to pay outgoing Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) CEO Maura Davies a full year of salary – $382,351 plus benefits – as severance.
“That money could’ve been used to hire more physiotherapists, more occupational therapists, more psychologists, and not do vacancy management,” explained Wasylenko.
Wasylenko said SHR and other regions often try to save money by not filling positions.
“This under-staffing has hurt access to health care services,” she said.
“When the public has such a low confidence in how they’re managing, what we’re saying is they better wake up and smell the coffee and do something about this.”
Last Friday, the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority announced it asked Davies to resign, stating long-term leadership is needed for upcoming projects, and that Davies told them she was ready to retire two years ago.
In a statement, the SHR said it has remained transparent.
“Saskatoon Health Region greatly values the contributions our staff and physicians make every day to improve the lives of patients and clients. We will continue to ensure we remain accountable to the taxpayers of Saskatchewan.”
Comments