Many Saskatchewan nurses, supporters rally in Regina park amid staffing crisis

Many Saskatchewan nurses and supporters gathered to rally at Regina’s Wascana Park to voice concerns about the health care system.

Such concerns include staffing shortages that lead to indicators of increased patient safety and risks.

In a release, the president of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) said that registered nurses need to see urgency and a clear political will to solve this crisis.

“We cannot wait to act when so many patients are needlessly suffering,” said Tracy Zambory. “There’s an irrefutable link between registered nurse burnout and poorer patient outcomes, and right now, we risk worsening shortages as faith in workplace support and commitment to fix the problem dwindles.”

Results from an October 2023 survey shows the health care system riddled with patient safety concerns.

“Long waits, missed treatments, cancelled procedures, avoidable hospital admissions; these and many other indicators of increased patient safety and risk are occurring across the system every day because of registered nursing shortages,” said Zambory.

The survey shows that 81 per cent of registered nurses report knowing of a time when patients were at risk due to short staffing, Of those who are aware of risk due to short staffing, over 51 per cent report the risk is frequent.

“Over nine in ten note there have been times when short staffing has led to longer wait times and delayed or missed assessment or treatment,” the release read.

“Similar proportions indicate experiencing times when short staffing has led to poor patient experience, service reductions or disruptions, reduced standards of care, and delayed or cancelled procedures. While almost three quarters say that short staffing has led to unplanned or unnecessary admissions and avoidable deterioration in patients.”

SUN filed for a Freedom of Information request shows that in the 2.5 years prior to June 30, 2023, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has spent $78.5 million on contract nursing services, with expenditures exceeding $45 million in 2022 alone.

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“The misplaced focus on private agencies is costly to taxpayers, averaging $120 per hour, and it is not sustainable,” Zambory said. “We should be talking directly with registered nurses on the ground to build homegrown solutions; something I’ve repeatedly spoken to the SHA, the Ministry of Health, and Premier Moe about.”

SUN continues to advocate for a nursing task force that includes unions, regulatory bodies, educational institutions, government, and employers to jointly develop a Saskatchewan-made plan to address the crisis.