REGINA – Premier Brad Wall’s government spending and hiring freeze doesn’t apply to Saskatchewan’s Lean health care program, according to the opposition NDP.
A job posting in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR), posted on January 9, details a Lean Specialist position in the Kaizen Promotion Office, which teaches Lean principles to physicians and staff.
NDP Lean critic Warren McCall wants the SaskParty government to detail which positions are essential.
“The gravy train keeps rolling for Lean specialists,” McCall said. “There’s no end of money to put towards these folks but the front lines go wanting where the actual services people count on are being delivered.”
“I think that’s information people would like to know.”
Wall imposed a government hiring freeze on December 17, 2014, and said only jobs with the highest demand in sectors such as health or education would be posted.
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The position is ‘out of scope’ with no salary range posted, but critics believe similar positions pay more than $100,000.
“When you’ve got the needs in seniors care and needs in the health care system in general, it doesn’t add up,” McCall said.
Health Minister Dustin Duncan argued the Lean Specialist is critical to quality and safety in the health system.
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“If you can change your workplace and make an improvement for three weeks, that’s great, but if you can’t sustain it … then you had a benefit for three weeks but nothing further than that,” Duncan said. “That’s the work these people do.”
Travel costs
Duncan said some money has been saved by canceling discretionary travel, but he admitted that tours of Lean facilities in the United States will continue until March 31.
A government spokesperson confirmed Thursday that seven more tours are planned with 20 people on each visit. The total cost is expected to be $1.25 million.
Lean is a government program designed to streamline health care services. The contract with U.S.-based Lean consultant John Black is being terminated at the end of March, with the total cost being more than $30 million.
SEE BELOW: Lean Specialist job posting in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (highlighting by NDP)
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