To the Editor:
Throughout Saskatchewan, families are being let down when it comes to health care and seniors care and it's due to reckless spending on bloated administration and out-of-country consultants while the needs for front-line staff and basic care are being dismissed.
The government's numbers show two out of every three seniors care facilities in our province have staff positions that are unfilled. In total, there are 703 vacancies in both care facilities and hospitals.
That's concerning on its own, but it's especially concerning when you know these vacancies are occurring within a staff complement that is already far too inadequate.
I am constantly hearing stories of seniors not getting access to basic care or the necessities that provide dignity and respect. Seniors are being left to soil themselves because no one is around to help them to the bathroom and, oftentimes, are not even getting a weekly bath.
These stories go hand-in-hand with reports of understaffing on the front lines of Saskatchewan health facilities.
Last fall, Saskatchewan care facilities put forward urgent requests to the government to help with the basic needs in the health system. On top of much needed beds and equipment, the care facilities also requested more front-line staff.
Those needs were ignored or scaled back by this government.
That's frustrating to Saskatchewan families with loved ones in care, and it's frustrating to me. At a time when the economy is doing well, untold millions of dollars are being spent on American consultants and Japanese senseis for the Lean pet project instead of being put into what really matters in health care and seniors care.
It's time this government stop dismissing their own statistics, and start listening to health professionals, seniors in care and families.
Cam Broten, Leader of the Official Opposition, Saskatchewan's NDP.
