Patients returning to Parkland Integrated Health Centre after wildfire evacuation lifted

Patients are being returned to the Parkland Integrated Health Centre following the end of a wildfire evacuation order for the area.

According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, 53 patients from the Shellbrook health centre were per-emptively transferred on Friday to facilities in Prince Albert, Melfort, Tisdale, Unity and Porcupine Plain due to the wildfire risk in the area.

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Now that the evacuation order for the RM of Shellbrook has been lifted, the health authority said it has begun returning patients to the facility, with the transfers expected to be completed on Wednesday.

“The Parkland Integrated Health Centre remained open for emergency and primary health services during the evacuation and is now reopened for acute inpatient care and long-term care,” the health authority added.

Derek Miller, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s chief operating officer, thanked the patients and their families for the understanding and patience they showed during the process.

“We are grateful to our staff and physicians for their collaboration and care throughout the evacuation process,” Miller added in a statement.

“Thankfully, the immediate risk presented to the community was avoided, and we are grateful for the efforts of our partners, including the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency in coordinating a robust response to wildfire risk in the area.”