The Saskatchewan government's plan to open five new urgent care centres (UCCs) has been met with praise from patients but concern from healthcare workers, who say the system is already stretched thin. Regina's first UCC, which opened in July 2024, was designed to alleviate pressure on emergency departments by treating non-life-threatening conditions. However, staffing shortages have led to intermittent closures and long wait times.
Patient Experiences Vary
Jonathan Dauk, a Regina resident, has visited the UCC twice. On his first visit in mid-winter, he waited nine hours for a blood test and prescription. His second visit earlier this month was much smoother: he was in and out in two and a half hours and received a referral to a urologist. "Way better the second time," Dauk said. The UCC operates daily from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with physicians working overlapping shifts to ensure coverage until midnight for patients who arrive before closing.
Triage in Action
The centre uses triage, similar to TV medical dramas, to prioritize patients based on severity. A cyst, Dauk discovered, is considered more urgent than minor scrapes, reflecting the UCC's focus on conditions that require same-day attention but are not life-threatening.
Staffing Challenges Highlighted
Unions representing healthcare workers argue that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) lacks sufficient personnel to staff the existing UCC, let alone new ones. Helen Head, general vice-president of CUPE 5430 Region 3, which represents doctors, nurses, technicians, and support staff, stated, "There's absolutely not enough staff anywhere in Saskatchewan for this. The UCC is a brilliant idea for the public and a devastating idea for health-care workers." The centre has been closed multiple times due to staffing issues, including over the 2024 Christmas and New Year's holidays.
The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) represents registered nurses and nurse practitioners at the UCC, while CUPE covers most other roles. Both unions have voiced concerns about burnout and unsustainable workloads. Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to expanding urgent care services across the province.
