Saskatoon City Hospital emergency hours increased, but not back to full capacity

Saskatoon City Hospital’s emergency department has increased its hours, although it is still not offering the level of service it was earlier this year.

In a news release on June 28, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said the ER is increasing its hours of operation to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Sunday, June 29.

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In March, the SHA in March reduced the hospital’s ER hours to be open only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. after operating from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Feb. 14, when the authority said said the ER hours would be reduced from Feb. 15 to Feb. 23, “based on physician availability.”

It then said on Feb. 21 the hours were extended until March 2 for the same reason.

On Feb 28, SHA gave the same reason for extending the reduced hours until March 9, and on March 7 again said hours would be reduced until March 16.

Prior to February, the ER was open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The SHA said it “has made progress” in stabilizing its physician staffing and is taking a phased approach in resuming full operational hours. It said that work is “continuing” on the planned addition of 109 acute care beds at Saskatoon City Hospital.

Anyone needing emergency department services after outside these hours should go to Royal University Hospital or St. Paul’s Hospital emergency departments, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The SHA said people with non-emergency medical concerns can call HealthLine 811 or visit a walk-in clinic.

On March 7, the Government of Saskatchewan announced it was giving the hospital $15 million in 2025 to purchase 109 acute care beds, upgrade equipment and expand acute care services.

Part of the money will also go towards recruiting an additional 500 staff and physicians to help care for the added capacity.

“We’ve committed to add 22 acute rehabilitation beds, 12 acquired brain injury beds, 60 general medicine beds and 15 high acuity beds,” said Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Andrew Will in a press conference at the time.

Will said the goal of the new beds was to help make it easier for patients waiting in the emergency department at the hospital to move into acute care, which has been a problem in the past.

“On average, we have 55 patients waiting in emergency departments for acute care beds. By adding these 109 beds, we directly reduce the number of patients waiting in emergency departments for admission to acute care, helping to alleviate pressure on emergency care services and improving timely access to care,” Will said.

“This means that patients will receive acute care in the right place — in an acute care bed — instead of waiting in the emergency department for admission to acute care. This creates a better experience for patients,” Will added.

Will also said he was confident the SHA will be able to recruit health-care workers for the related soon-to-be-created jobs.

— with files from 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing

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