Saskatchewan Commits to Daily Updates on Hospital Closures

The Saskatchewan government has announced a commitment to providing daily updates regarding temporary closures of health facilities and services. This decision aims to address growing frustration among residents who have faced unexpected disruptions in healthcare access. Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill made the announcement during a legislative session, indicating that the Saskatchewan Health Authority will publish a list of service disruptions on its website by 16:00 local time each day.

Cockrill’s remarks came in response to concerns raised by the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP). He acknowledged that many residents have experienced dissatisfaction with the notification process surrounding health service closures. According to Jared Clarke, the NDP health critic, data obtained through freedom of information requests revealed that there were 643 service disruptions from November 2023 to May 2025. This marks a significant increase from the 86 disruptions recorded during the 2018-19 period.

The types of service disruptions have varied, including closures of emergency rooms, cancelled laboratory work, and postponed surgeries. Clarke highlighted the challenges faced by patients in rural areas, stating, “Hundreds of these closures have involved rural emergency rooms.” Many individuals have found themselves driving to multiple facilities only to encounter closed signs at each location.

Nurse Cindy Landrie, who works at Battlefords Union Hospital, expressed her concerns about the situation. She noted that the hospital’s CT scanner has faced intermittent closures due to staffing shortages, and patients in need of intensive care have had to be redirected elsewhere. “That’s unacceptable. We should be able to look after all in the community and surrounding area,” Landrie said. With 26 years of nursing experience in North Battleford, she emphasized the urgent need to value healthcare staff to retain them and improve recruitment efforts.

In light of the ongoing issues, Clarke criticized Cockrill’s commitment to daily updates as insufficient. He proposed a private member’s bill that would mandate the health authority to announce any emergency room closures within one hour. “This information could save people’s lives,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of the matter. Clarke further pointed out that a daily update policy does not meet the immediate needs of residents in rural Saskatchewan.

Despite the criticism, Cockrill assured reporters that the province is considering adjustments to the timing of notifications. He emphasized that daily updates would help manage the information flow effectively while prioritizing efforts to reduce the number of disruptions. “The biggest goal is reducing the number of disruptions, right?” he stated, reiterating the need for the Saskatchewan Health Authority to focus on this challenge.

The government is also taking steps to address staffing shortages by hiring more personnel and offering one-time payments to attract workers in rural areas. Additionally, the province has increased the number of training seats in post-secondary institutions to facilitate the entry of more healthcare graduates into the workforce. “I think we’re making progress. There’s still challenges, no doubt about it,” Cockrill remarked, highlighting the broader context of healthcare difficulties faced across provinces.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 30, 2025.