Sask. Party Plan Adds Hundreds More RNs and Doctors
On September 5, 2007, Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall announced a $275 million comprehensive human resource plan to deal with the nursing crisis and the severe shortage of doctors and other health care professionals in the province.
In their first term of government, the Saskatchewan Party's plan would add 800 registered nurses (RNs), (filling 600 nursing vacancies that currently exist plus adding another 200 RNs) to improve patient care and improve the nurse to patient ratio. The plan also adds 300 registered nurse training seats and brings the number of physician training seats to 100 (which is comparable to Manitoba) during their first term in government. The plan will also fund 60 additional doctor residency positions in Saskatchewan hospitals and support and improve the current bursary program for the recruitment and retention of local health care professionals.
"For over ten years the NDP have ignored warnings from nurses, doctors and other health care professionals about the health care crisis in this province," Wall said. "The result is some of the longest waiting lists in Canada, hospital closures, nurses and doctors moving away in disgust, and a deteriorated health care system. It's time to change the direction of health care in Saskatchewan - and this initiative would be a Saskatchewan Party government's first step."
"The Calvert NDP have been big on promises for health care, but haven't delivered on those promises," Wall said. "NDP cuts to training seats in the 90's have created a severe skills shortage that has left Saskatchewan worse off than other provinces. Aggressive corrective action combined with a long-term plan to protect Saskatchewan's health care system from collapsing is needed. And that's what a Saskatchewan Party government will deliver."
Wall said a Saskatchewan Party government will examine all areas of specialization from doctors to medical laboratory technologists and radiologists to determine the current shortages, effectiveness of recruitment efforts, retention issues, and future training requirements. It would also increase the use of nurse practitioners and establish a bridging program to make it easier for LPNs to become RNs.
The Saskatchewan Party's plan will also track and publicly report vacancies of RNs, RPNs (Registered Psychiatric Nurses) and LPNs from year-to-year to measure progress; establish Patient Exit Surveys; and, commit to a Premier's Council on Health Care Work Place Issues.
"A Saskatchewan Party government will offer new hope for patients by aggressively attacking waiting lists and improving patient care, as well as new hope for hard-working health care workers by restoring balance in the workplace," Wall said.
Background Information
Click here for more background information on the Saskatchewan Party's plan.
Click here to read more about the kind of health care Lorne Calvert has delivered.
For more information, Saskatchewan Party, Regina, 359-1638.