Melville surgeries terminated

Surgical services at St. Peter's Hospital in Melville have been discontinued dating back to Feb 1.

Suann Laurent, CEO and president of the Sunrise Health Region told the regular monthly meeting of the SHR Board last Wednesday discussions around discontinuing surgeries in Melville came about "from a quality and safety perspective."

Laurent said the process was an inclusive one, with discussions taking place with the local St. Peter's Board, and facility management.

The discussions resolved around aspects identified in the recent accreditation report, facility utilization on a regional basis and maintaining staff competencies in the face of ever lower surgical volumes in Melville.

Through the process it became apparent "it was time for us to cease that service in terms of some high risk surgeries," said Laurent.

The report to the Board noted in the 2012-13 year only 14 surgeries were carried out, down from 47 a year before that, and 65 in 2010-11.

Laurent said "back-in-the-day" surgeries were carried out in smaller hospitals, but in this era that is not the case.

"The competency is here (Yorkton)," she said. " We have the capacity in Yorkton to do these surgeries."

Laurent added ultimately all the partner involved in the process agreed the decision to cease surgeries in Melville was the right one.

Cystoscopy and endoscopy will continue to be provided at St. Peter's Hospital.