Regina – The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) outlined its budget plan for the year Tuesday, and projects a year end deficit of $13.9 million.
There are several major challenges facing the region, the biggest being carry over deficits from the past two years, $1.6 million in 2014, and $19.7 million in 2013.
Also, a growing and aging population is creating a busier environment across all health care facilities. The region cites no funding increases for inflation or demographic pressures as a factor creating the fiscal challenge.
Staff salaries account for 73 per cent of the RQHR’s $1 billion budget.
Officials say they will continue to try and cut back overtime, sick days, and orientations. They will continue to try and optimize staff levels, but they aren’t planning any layoffs.
“The region has been able to balance our operating budget for much of the last 10 years, and is committed to continued fiscal responsibility for the money entrusted to us,” said RQHR President and CEO Keith Dewar in a press release issued Tuesday night.
“We recognize the need for restraint in the current economic environment. With a $1 billion budget and approximately 10,000 staff and 630 physicians working in the region, we believe that if we continue to use our resources wisely and commit to providing the appropriate service in the most appropriate location by the appropriate service provider, we have the opportunity to accomplish even more for our patients, residents and clients.”
RQHR also celebrated some of its accomplishments Tuesday. The most significant being reducing the number of people waiting more than three months for their surgical procedure. In April 2010, approximately 6,000 people were waiting; by March 31, 2015 RQHR is projecting 200 people will be waiting. This puts them much closer to the mandated wait-time targets, laid out by the provincial government.
Region officials are also reporting lower wait times in a number of other areas such as mental health and addictions, and diagnostic imaging.
The RQHR board approved the business plan, but only approved the operating budget in principle. The numbers will now have to be finalized over the next few weeks, and then submitted to the Ministry of Health by June 5th.
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