REGINA — A coalition of Saskatchewan communities and the provincial health department have reached an agreement on health reform.
The 40 communities have dropped their threat of a lawsuit against the province in exchange for guaranteed 24-hour emergency health service and some additional funding.
The agreement will cost $1.1 million, to be absorbed in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 budgets.
Although only 40 of 52 communities affected by 1993 hospital cuts were involved in the lawsuit, the principles of last week’s agreement will apply to all. The communities banded together last fall after the provincial government stopped funding for several facilities.
Read Also
Supreme Court gives thumbs-up emoji case the thumbs down
Saskatchewan farmer wanted to appeal the court decision that a thumbs-up emoji served as a signature to a grain delivery contract.
The agreement states the health department will provide district health boards with funds for 24-hour on-duty registered nursing services in the 18 communities where the health centres and special-care homes are separate facilities. This will cost about $400,000. In communities that have combined facilities, funding will be maintained.
District boards will receive $50,000 for each of the 10 communities that only have health centres. This is a one-time payment designed for transition funding while a long-term plan is developed.
A further $200,000 will be spent on training and education.
Services planned
District boards will work with communities to develop their plans for respite, palliative, convalescent and long-term care. Funding for these services will continue while the plans are being developed.
As well, where a district health board is unable to reach a consensus, a working group of representatives from the coalition, health boards and the department will be established to find solutions.
The working group will make recommendations to health minister Louise Simard by March 31. The minister will implement a policy based on these recommendations by April 30.
Coalition chair Rod MacDonald said the decision to drop the lawsuit was unanimous. He said the agreement ensures better communication and negotiation in the future.
