Health care recruitment and retention very important for SUMA members, says president
CBC
The interim president of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) is saying more needs to be done for health care recruitment and retention in Saskatchewan's smaller municipalities.
Randy Goulden spoke with journalists on Monday during the 2022 SUMA Convention and Tradeshow in Regina.
Her call for more health services, particularly outside of Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert, also includes mental health support.
"There's no doubt that there were always those types of issues [around mental health and addictions]," said Goulden, who is also a city councillor in Yorkton.
"But the pandemic has amplified that…. It has amplified it to a crisis proportion. Now we're hearing more and more from our members that people are really suffering."
Health care professionals are needed for treatment programs, but equally important are proactive services, she said.
In his speech at the 2022 SUMA Convention and Tradeshow on Monday, Premier Scott Moe also talked about health care in Saskatchewan municipalities, including the addition of 150 intensive rehabilitation treatment spaces.
"We're appreciative of the 150 beds that are going to be added," said Goulden.
"But also we need those proactive activities that can stop some of that before it gets to the crisis and before that treatment is needed. And that's a very, very expensive treatment."
Health care recruitment and retention, not just related to mental health, was one of the 24 resolutions presented, debated and passed on Monday afternoon at the SUMA Convention and Tradeshow.
Its action clause calls for SUMA to advocate for an immediate development and implementation of a long term recruiting and retention plan in order to provide emergent and acute health care throughout Saskatchewan.
With Moe speaking about training and recruiting more nurses and doctors on Monday, Goulden said she sees the province's commitment to the health care system.
But "this needs to be done now and soon," she added.
Goulden would also like to see more when it comes to bringing and keeping health care workers in smaller municipalities, she said.
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