SEIU-West president unsure about NDP call for military help

The head of a union representing thousands of health-care workers across the province isn’t sure calling the military is the help the industry needs.

However, SEIU-West president Barbara Cape knows some sort of help is needed.

“If we’re at the point where we’re asking for military support in the health-care system, then we have really, really dropped the ball collectively as a province,” Cape said.

“We really should have been investing in frontline staff that would have made military support not necessary.”

On Wednesday, the Saskatchewan NDP called for the provincial government to extend a request to the Canadian military for help.

“It’s time that we admit that we need help before it’s too late,” NDP MLA and Health Critic Vicki Mowat said.

Cape said repeated calls for the province to hire more employees were ignored for years and could have prevented the staffing crunch at facilities happening now.

Mowat said Saskatchewan’s health-care system is “bracing for impact” and suggested the system is heading toward a collapse.

Cape isn’t sure what help the military could offer.

“I’m not entirely sure what the heck that means when people jump on the bandwagon and say, ‘Bring in the military,’ ” Cape said.

“What do we want? Will the military fill in the gaps where we have such crushing short-staffing levels?”

Cape said lab technologists, diagnostic technicians, nursing aides, licensed practical nurses, laundry aides and cooks are just some of the many positions that are in desperate need right now.

“The whole system is turning themselves inside out,” she said.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority on Wednesday announced the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon would be accepting selected adults up to the age of 40 to ease the burden on ICUs in the province.

Provinces like Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta have asked for help from the military in recent months.

Cape hopes help is on the horizon whether it comes from the military or not.

“I don’t know how we’re keeping it up right now. People are at the breaking point. I think people are running on adrenaline only,” she said.