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Diabetes Care Shift: Families Face Longer Travel
9 Sep
Summary
- Diabetes follow-up appointments now require travel to Saskatoon.
- Families face longer driving times and increased expenses.
- Concerns linger over the future of Regina's pediatric diabetes program.
A Wolseley family, the McBrides, are experiencing increased hardship due to a change in their daughter Brexley's medical care for Type 1 diabetes. Her scheduled follow-up appointments, previously held in Regina, will now take place in Saskatoon. This necessitates an additional two-hour drive for the family, significantly impacting their finances due to costs for meals, time off school for Brexley, and lost workdays for her parents.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has been moving care to Saskatoon, prompting concerns about the status of the Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Program in Regina. Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill has expressed disappointment with the program's apparent finality and hopes for its revival. Opposition MLAs are seeking clear answers on whether the closure is temporary or permanent to provide clarity for affected families.
Families like the McBrides are seeking answers regarding the discontinuation of the Regina program and any plans for its potential reinstatement. The uncertainty surrounding these appointments affects not only the McBride family but likely others requiring specialized pediatric care within the province.
