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An in-patient at Regina’s Pasqua Hospital was “mobile enough to be out and about on the ward” in the days prior to receiving a COVID-19 diagnosis, says the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses. “The potential for a very big problem here is great,” said union president Tracy Zambory. She noted two emergency room nurses and one nurse working in a different…

The Saskatchewan government announced five new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, including a patient at Regina's Pasqua Hospital — and the nurses' union wants an outbreak declared. The province said the case is under investigation, including contact tracing. Dr. Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer, said there is no evidence of transmission so far. "A…

Over the past number of weeks, SUN members have responded in overwhelming numbers to a call to fill shifts in Lloydminster and La Loche while those facilities were in COVID-19 outbreak (“outbreak facility”). It became apparent that SUN members were receiving mixed messages on the requirement to self-isolate or not work in another health facility if they did fill a need in an…

A band councillor for a Saskatchewan First Nation is speaking out after a rash of suicide attempts in the past few weeks on his reserve.  Dustin Ross Fiddler of Waterhen Lake First Nation said a 14-year-old girl recently died by suicide and that he is aware of 10 other recent attempts. "There's always the cases that we don't know about or they haven't brought to…

Those who depend on rural emergency rooms are alarmed to see them close just as COVID-19 case numbers flatten in most of Saskatchewan. Six rural emergency rooms had already been temporarily shuttered by Friday. Six more are following, including at the Arcola Health Centre, which is closing down emergency care on Thursday. Judy Naylen depends on that care. She has “flare ups” of…