Children in Saskatoon will have dedicated emergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority announced it had hired a new pediatric emergency doctor, allowing for the expanded hours at Royal University Hospital.
"We've been able to increase our hours for children's emergency services due to our successful recruitment efforts," said Corey Miller, Vice President of Provincial Programs for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, in a release.
Before the change, children were sent to the adult emergency ward from midnight to 8 a.m.
The new policy has been put in place as the province gets ready to open the new Jim Pattison Children's Hospital. While no specific date has yet been announced, officials have promised the hospital will be open sometime this fall.
A second doctor will also be available on-site to help during busy periods. The number of registered nurses has also been increased in the pediatric unit.
Photo source: CBC Saskatoon
Source: CBC Saskatoon https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-children-s-emergency-ward-1.5245278
