The Saskatchewan Health Authority along with health minister Jim Reiter announced Wednesday it is moving forward with Phase Two of the resumption of medical services on June 16.
The intention is for targeted increases in surgical and medical imaging volumes and the opening of services at all SHA-operated specialty clinics in the province; these specialty clinics including ones for cardiac catheterization, cardiac stress testing, eye centres, cast clinics and numerous other programs.
Phase Two will see a return of surgical volume to 65-70 per cent provincially. According to the province this will include urgent, emergent and also some elective procedures.
There is also an increase in medical imaging capacity with a target of 90 per cent of pre-COVID-19 volumes. The province stated in a news release that current service levels for MRIs and CT scans are now at 83 per cent, up from approximately 50 per cent at the beginning of Phase One.
“Of course our goal is to return to full capacity as soon as safely possible,” Reiter said at the news conference. “But it’s not yet business as usual. Our health services require new safety measures to ensure protections are in place against COVID-19.”
Reiter also pointed to the need to be prepared in case of a “second wave” of COVID-19. He noted work is ongoing to establish field hospitals in Regina and Saskatoon. Reiter said it is now nearing the point where, if needed, “work would be triggered to make the field hospitals operational.“
“While we hope we never have to use them, these facilities will in effect be our insurance policy, allowing us to treat COVID-19 patients without having to once again scale back on surgeries and other important health services,” said Reiter.
The first phase of resumption began on May 19, and since then more than 330 health services have resumed, said SHA Chief Executive Officer Scott Livingstone. With Phase Two, Livingstone said the services provided will look different than it did before.
“As we gradually and safely increase service levels, we are learning how to do that in different ways,” said Livingstone. “The new ways require us to take special precautions around physical distancing, cohorting our staff, PPE usage, and infection prevention and control.”
He added this has meant some adjustments for patients. Livingstone thanked the public for their “patience and understanding about the need to take these extra safety measures as we re-open our health care system.”
