The Regina Urgent Care Centre (UCC) will have reduced hours today closing at 4:00 p.m., due to an unanticipated physician absence. There will be reduced hours on Tuesday, January 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. due to physician availability. The Regina Urgent Care Centre will return to its regular hours of operation of 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. the following days on January 3 and January 7. 

During times when the Regina Urgent Care Centre is not operating, patients experiencing medical emergencies should call 9-1-1 or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency department at:

• Regina General Hospital – 1440 14th Avenue, Regina; or
• Pasqua Hospital – 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina.

For non-emergency medical care, patients can access information and care by: 

• Calling HealthLine 811 – For professional health and mental health advice available 24/7.
• Visit a walk-in clinic – Check local clinic hours as schedules may vary.
• Connect with your pharmacy – Some pharmacies may be open and can assist with minor health concerns.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) would like to thank physicians, health care providers and staff who ensure our patients can access high quality care across the province. The SHA appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is reminding the public of upcoming changes in hours for Regina Urgent Care Centre (UCC) over the holiday break, which are to accommodate physician availability, staffing holidays, and to proactively ensure the availability of patient services.

The Regina UCC operates seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the exception of these specific dates over the holiday break:

•    Sunday, Dec. 21 – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed early)
•    Thursday, Dec. 25 – closed    
•    Friday, Dec. 26 – closed
•    Wednesday, Dec. 31 – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed early)
•    Thursday, Jan. 1 – closed

During times when the Regina Urgent Care Centre is not operating, patients experiencing medical emergencies should call 911 or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency department at:
•    Regina General Hospital – 1440 14th Ave., Regina; or 
•    Pasqua Hospital – 4101 Dewdney Ave., Regina.

For non-emergency medical care, patients can access information and care by: 
•    Calling HealthLine 811 – For professional health and mental health advice available 24/7.
•    Visit a walk-in clinic – Check local clinic hours as schedules may vary.
•    Connect with your pharmacy – Some pharmacies may be open and can assist with minor health concerns.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) would like to thank physicians, health care providers and staff who ensure our patients can access high quality care across the province. The SHA appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation. 
 

Emergency teams and communities across Saskatchewan will soon benefit from enhanced lifesaving technology following the donation of five LUCAS 3.1 mechanical chest compression devices from the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan to the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The devices will support rural emergency medical services staffed and supported by Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan members.

The Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS) is a union representing over 4400 specialized health care professionals across the province including over 500 paramedics.

The donation, valued at more than $100,000, will support emergency medical services teams in La Loche, Beauval, Estevan, Weyburn and Esterhazy — communities identified by the Saskatchewan Health Authority as high-priority locations based on call volumes and historical cardiac arrest data. These units will be integrated into service in the coming weeks.

The LUCAS 3.1 device delivers automated, consistent chest compressions at the correct depth and rate, improving the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during cardiac arrest while reducing responder fatigue. By ensuring continuous, high-quality compressions, the device frees paramedics to focus on other critical tasks such as airway management, medication administration and scene coordination — especially valuable during long transports and in rural settings where staffing may be limited.

“Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan is proud to support rural emergency medical services with this donation. Paramedics in rural communities provide critical, life-saving care, often under challenging circumstances and over long travel distances,” said Karen Schmid, Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan President. “We are pleased to contribute equipment that will help them continue this vital work and improve patient outcomes across rural Saskatchewan.”

HSAS emphasized that this contribution reflects its commitment to supporting both rural paramedics and the communities they serve.

“This donation directly strengthens frontline emergency care in our province,” said Rod MacKenzie, Executive Director, Provincial Clinical & Support Services-Community Care, Saskatchewan Health Authority. “The LUCAS devices support our teams by delivering consistent, high-quality chest compressions, essentially acting as an extra set of hands during CPR. They also enhance provider safety by reducing the need for staff to perform manual compressions for prolonged periods, allowing paramedics to focus on other critical aspects of patient care.”

Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan thanks the Saskatchewan Health Authority for its collaboration in identifying priority sites to ensure the devices make the greatest possible impact on patient care across Saskatchewan.

December is a time for celebrations and spending time with family and friends. To keep everyone safe and healthy, make sure you’re protected from influenza and COVID-19. Vaccination helps lower the risk of getting sick and spreading illness during the busy holiday season.

It also takes about two weeks for the vaccines to provide full protection, so getting them as soon as possible is the best way to stay healthy.

If you’ll be around people who are most at risk of serious illness, including adults over 65 years old, people with chronic health conditions and/or compromised immune systems, children under five and pregnant people, your immunization helps protect them too.

Visit 4flu.ca to find out how to get vaccinated. Vaccines are available at Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) immunization clinics, participating pharmacies, and some physician and nurse practitioner offices.

Keep your gatherings full of joy, not germs. Get your influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations and share the gift of good health!

Families gathered for a heartwarming reunion that brought together children who once depended on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital and the dedicated teams who supported them.

Held at the Nutrien Wonderhub, the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Reunion 2025 offered families the chance to reconnect with caregivers, share experiences, and show how much their children—ranging from energetic toddlers to school-aged Neonatal Intensive Care Unit graduates—have grown. Parents reunited with the staff who walked with them through some of their most challenging days.

“The NICU reunion events give families and staff a chance to reconnect and celebrate,” said Dr. Ann Donovan, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit physician at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

“A special bond is formed when you help a new baby and their family through a difficult time. Through these events, we build community between families who had a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It also re-energizes our staff to see the amazing little people they helped after they have gone home. We hope to continue to celebrate together for years to come!”

For families, the event highlights milestones once hoped for; for staff, it is a powerful reminder of the impact of their care. The reunion celebrates resilience and strengthens a community built on compassion and shared experience.

From left: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit graduate, Keaton Andre, with his family. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit staff members: Back row (from left): Candace Luciak, Shannon Willard, Rafaella Sakai Guerra, Dawn Erker, Ashley Skafel, Brooke Sterling, Chelsea Eason, and Molly McGillis. Front row: Connie Wormsbecker, Sarah Kotyk, Cara Galambos, Morgan Therres, Mikayla Nystuen, Jennifer Parson, Diane Denny, and Kristi Trevors. 
 

Saskatchewan residents now have increased access to free Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) self-testing kits. By reducing barriers to accessing these kits, Saskatchewan health-care teams are at the forefront of actively working to help reduce the stigma of having and testing for HIV.

“Our government is committed to making HIV testing easier and more accessible for everyone in Saskatchewan,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr said. “By expanding access to free self-testing kits, we are empowering people to take control of their health, supporting earlier diagnosis, and helping to reduce the stigma often associated with HIV. This investment strengthens our ongoing work to ensure all residents can access the care and supports they need, when and where they need them.”

With the support of $48,000 in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is making it easier to access free HIV self-testing kits; kits can be picked up by members of the public at a variety of SHA locations, community-based organizations, First Nations nursing stations, pharmacies, medical clinics and post-secondary institutions. A complete listing of locations providing HIV self-testing kits is available online here.

“The ability to self-test for HIV empowers individuals to take charge of their health in a private, convenient and accessible way,” said Jacqui Kennett-Peppler, Executive Director of Primary Health Care Southeast, SHA. “Quick and confidential testing supports early diagnosis, which is essential for connecting people to care, initiating treatment sooner and ultimately improving health outcomes. This initiative reflects our commitment to reducing barriers and promoting equitable access to care for all Saskatchewan residents.”

The HIV self-testing kits are a safe and reliable way to test for HIV at any time or location that is convenient. The kit only requires a small sample of blood from a fingertip to deliver accurate results in one minute. Positive results must be confirmed through additional in-person testing, which is free, confidential and available across the province. 

Any community-based organization or partner interested in becoming a distribution site can complete the HIV Self-testing Kit Program Application Form. Information about HIV and testing, including testing locations, is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/diseases-and-conditions/human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv/hiv-testing and www.saskatchewan.ca/hiv.

With the help of point-of-care testing in rural emergency departments, local care teams are focused on strengthening access to essential emergency health care across several rural communities.

Point-of-care testing in rural emergency departments is a strategy aimed at reducing service disruptions when regular lab services are unavailable.

“Having point-of-care testing technology accessible when needed is not just about equipping our team, it’s about supporting our community.” said Tracy Gulka, Health Services Manager at Kamsack Hospital. “I’m proud of our local health-care team who does what it takes to maintain access to emergency department services and ensure their community members can access care when they need it.”

Since 2023, the innovative strategy has been implemented in a total of eight rural communities, most recently Herbert, Shellbrook, Watrous, and Kipling, and soon Rosthern, Assiniboia, and Esterhazy, and has safely helped to avoid 214 potential emergency department service disruptions, as of November 24, 2025.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority appreciates the dedicated health-care team members in these rural communities who perform vital tests and deliver timely results, helping keep emergency department services available for patients.

The health-care team in Kamsack has been using point-of-care testing in the Kamsack Hospital emergency department since April 2025. Back row (from left): Ronald Baynosa, Continuing Care Assistant; Sheila Bear, Registered Nurse. Front row (from left): Mackenzie Dull, Registered Nurse; Delsie Putong, Licensed Practical Nurse; Juvelin Blanca, Registered Nurse.

When Ramona (name changed) was overwhelmed by the realities of her son’s struggle with addictions, the Mental Health and Addiction Adult Family Program provided her with a lifeline. 

“I was skeptical but I knew I couldn’t continue to deal with everything alone,” she said.

The Saskatoon-based Adult Family Addictions Program provides Saskatchewan families of adults with mental health and addictions challenges with education, counseling and resources to gain understanding, heal and support their family members’ recovery.

A referral from her son’s addiction worker connected Ramona to a counsellor in the Adult Family Program – a support system she has continued to lean on for more than 26 years. She now gives back as a peer supporter, facilitating sessions for others experiencing the same roller coaster of emotions that Ramona faced. Through individual appointments, educational and group sessions, Ramona has found strength, compassion and community.

“I am a firm believer in learning, compassion and support, and the Adult Family Program helped me embrace all three.”

Today, Ramona’s adult children live with continuing challenges. Thanks to the Adult Family Program, she is confident in her ability to cope and support them while caring for herself.

“I can’t say enough about how much this program has helped me during this difficult journey,” Ramona said. “I am stronger, more compassionate, understanding and a better parent because of the help I received.”

From left: Dione Fleury, Addiction Counselor; Dana McHattie, Addiction Counselor Senior; and Brenda McAllister, Manager, Adult Community Mental Health and Addiction Services – Saskatoon provide support and resources for adult family members of individuals struggling with mental health and addictions through the Saskatoon-based Adult Family Treatment program. Services are accessibly virtually to support adult family members from across the province.