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Saskatchewan Infants Face New Travel for Surgery
15 Apr
Summary
- New policy requires complex newborns to travel to Saskatoon.
- Change effective April 1, impacting anesthetic and surgical care.
- Concerns raised over transport time and family expenses.
Effective April 1, medically complex newborns and premature infants in Saskatchewan will require transfer to Jim Pattison Children's Hospital (JPCH) in Saskatoon for specialized anesthetic and surgical care. The Saskatchewan Health Authority cited low procedure volumes in Regina as the reason for this consolidation, ensuring that a small, high-need patient group receives care from sub-specialists.
While provincial health officials emphasize that JPCH offers unique expertise and that Regina continues to provide other pediatric surgical care, opposition critics express serious concerns. They highlight potential risks to critically ill infants during transport and the financial burden on families, despite government assurances of support.
The SHA stated that transportation methods, including air and ground ambulances, will be determined on a case-by-case basis to ensure the safest transfer for each child. This change is intended to be permanent, though officials noted it could be re-evaluated as the province's population grows.
