A member of the Saskatchewan NDP was in Kamsack, joining residents calling for action on the closure of acute care beds at the Kamsack Hospital.

There were calls for action on service disruptions to the hospital’s emergency department, which is operating Monday to Friday from 8am-4pm, and outside of those hours, residents are told to go to Yorkton, Canora or Preeceville for emergency care.

In a news release, Critic for Seniors Matt Love accuses the provincial government of not taking responsibility for decisions they’ve made, adding the people at the rally are tired of excuses and want solutions.

Love says the Sask. Party government should be doing what the NDP has been doing – meeting with healthcare workers and families who are affected to hear the solutions that they have to offer.

CUPE healthcare workers also joined residents of Kamsack yesterday morning (Thurs), to voice their questions and concerns to Canora-Pelly MLA Terry Dennis and Minister of Rural and Remote Health Everett Hindley, both of whom toured the facility yesterday morning.

In a news release, CUPE Local 5430 president Bashir Jalloh says communities across Saskatchewan don’t have access to reliable healthcare services, and the provincial government is doing nothing to address those concerns.

Jalloh says Kamsack’s hospital is the latest to be impacted by chronic understaffing and issues with recruitment and retention.

Jalloh pointed to Melville, Esterhazy, Spiritwood, and Broadview as other communities affected by bed closures and ER shutdowns.

Jalloh adds CUPE has been calling on some common-sense solutions to recruitment and retention.