The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is implementing an updated emergency service disruption process to provide accurate, reliable information about the availability of emergency services across the province. Starting in early November, all emergency service disruptions, regardless of their length, will be posted publicly on the SHA website, with updates occurring daily at 4:00 p.m., seven days a week.

“The SHA is committed to providing patients, families and communities with reliable and accurate information about the availability of emergency services, and we acknowledge frustrations from patients and communities about our current reporting process” said Derek Miller, Chief Operating Officer of the SHA. “These changes will ensure that accurate and reliable information about service availability will be consistently available to the public while our teams work to restore emergency services impacted by temporary disruptions.”

The SHA makes every effort to maintain emergency services by securing staff and physician coverage wherever possible. Temporary disruptions are only implemented as a last resort and may be caused by staff or physician vacancies, unplanned absences, scheduled vacations, or facility and equipment upgrades.

Once activated in early November, the SHA’s new service disruption reporting process will provide patients with an alphabetical listing of all SHA facilities experiencing disruptions to emergency services, updated daily at 4:00 pm. Currently, the SHA posts service disruptions of seven days or more. Disruptions to emergency services will also be reflected on individual Facility & Location pages on the SHA’s website. To support this updated process, the SHA has implemented several internal process improvements to improve accuracy of reported data and provide enhanced support to SHA team members who are reporting local service disruptions. 

As changes to services availability can occur on short notice, not all disruptions may appear on the service disruption web page immediately. When this happens, signage is posted at the affected facility, and the information will be reflected in the next daily update. Healthline 811, operated by the SHA, will have real-time information regarding the availability of emergency services across the province. Patients and residents are able to call Healthline 811 at any time for advice regarding service availability, or for health guidance from Registered Nurses and other qualified health professionals. Following implementation of this updated process, the SHA will be continuing system improvements with a goal of providing real-time, public updates regarding the status of emergency service disruptions. 

The SHA remains committed to providing patients, families, and communities with clear and timely information about emergency care. To strengthen emergency services in rural and remote areas, the SHA has implemented several initiatives, including the Virtual Physician Program, Point-of-Care Testing, and ongoing health-care human resource strategies.

In any life-threatening emergency, always call 9-1-1. Paramedics will assess, treat, and transport patients to the nearest available site for further medical attention.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is issuing a public notification regarding a potential risk of exposure to Hepatitis A due to a food service employee at McDonald’s, located at 1803 50th Avenue, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

The SHA is conducting a thorough investigation and follow-up regarding a case of Hepatitis A involving a food handler who participated in food and drink preparation and handling of utensils at the aforementioned McDonald’s location.

The dates of potential exposure for customers of this restaurant are: 

Anyone who may have eaten at this restaurant (whether dining in, taking out, or having food delivered) during the dates listed above is advised to do the following:

• Contact HealthLine 811 to be assessed and determine if they are eligible to receive protective vaccination against Hepatitis A from their local Public Health Services,
• In Lloydminster, call Public Health at 306-820-6225
• Monitor for symptoms of Hepatitis A for up to 50 days after your last exposure.

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus that is spread from person to person. Symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, light-coloured stool, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

The risk of transmission is very low; however, the possibility of transmission still exists.

To be eligible for Hepatitis A vaccination, no more than 14 days have passed since the most recent meal at this restaurant, and you have not had a Hepatitis A vaccine in the past. Based on the dates of potential exposure, the last day for vaccination is November 2, 2025. More information on the vaccine and Hepatitis A, can be found here.

The Inpatient Mental Health Unit at the Regina General Hospital has unveiled a new “Welcome” sign in 40 different languages.

Reflecting our CARES values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Equity and Safety, the sign features 40 different languages. This initiative was championed by a staff member and was made possible through the generous support of Ian Moats and Sticks & Doodles, who covered the cost and helped turn this idea into reality. 

This visual addition underscores our commitment to creating spaces that mirror the diversity, kindness and love from our communities. The hope is that everyone who steps inside feels seen, welcome and cared for, regardless of their background or language. 

The SHA remains committed to ensuring that mental health care environments foster inclusion, connection and dignity. 

In response to the challenges with the employee scheduling component of the Administrative Information Management System (AIMS) that have been raised by health-system employees, the Government of Saskatchewan has directed the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), in partnership with 3sHealth and the Ministry of Health, to return to the previous scheduling systems.

We want to sincerely thank health-system employees for their continued perseverance and dedication in adapting to the new system. We also acknowledge and apologize for the frustrations many have experienced with the scheduling component of AIMS.

This change affects approximately 7,000 employees who have been using the scheduling component in the former Kelsey Trail and Cypress health regions, as well as out-of-scope employees. The supply chain, finance, payroll, and human resources components of AIMS, which are in use by about 50,000 employees, remain stable and are not impacted by this decision.

The SHA and 3sHealth are targeting November 30 for the return to the previous scheduling systems. Employees and managers will receive direct communication and support throughout this transition to ensure they have the information they need and that service to patients and residents continues without interruption.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is expanding its online Patient Booking System to include lab appointments in Moosomin, Indian Head, and Fort Qu’Appelle. This tool enables patients to book appointments for blood and urine collection, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and glucose intolerance testing online.

Booking opens in Moosomin on October 28, in Indian Head on October 29, and in Fort Qu’Appelle on October 30, with appointments available in each community starting one week after booking opens.

The SHA Patient Booking System is the fastest way to book a lab appointment and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To book your appointment using the online system, you need:

If you do not see your desired appointment type or location, or if you require further assistance, call the Patient Booking System Call Centre Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (closed statutory holidays) at 1-833-727-5829. Walk-in appointments will continue to be available on a first-come, first-served basis at all testing locations.

On Thanksgiving weekend, 900 patients in Saskatoon hospitals celebrated the holiday with a Thanksgiving dinner. Those enjoying the full meal received the classic dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a pumpkin tart. It’s one of the (tasty) ways Nutrition and Food Services show our values in action.

“Compassion is the very first of our CARES values,” said Joy Ang, Manager of Food Production Saskatoon for Nutrition and Food Services, “and one of the ways we can show patients compassion at a time when they really need it is to feed them that special meal they might be missing out on at home.”

This year, the meal came with a special ingredient: sage grown in an aeroponic garden on the roof of Royal University Hospital, used in the stuffing. The garden, now in its second year, expanded in 2025, producing over 750 pounds of locally harvested produce like lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, mint and sage for hospital meals.

“The rooftop produce is a great, sustainable, addition to our pantry,” said Ang. “In fact, we harvested enough sage that we will use it in the stuffing for the Christmas dinners as well.”

No matter the occasion, the Nutrition and Food Services team is living the CARES values, filling hearts and bellies at the same time.

Sage and other herbs growing on the RUH rooftop garden and the Thanksgiving meal prepared for patients in Saskatoon hospitals

On July 25, 2025, gastroenterologist Dr. Chris Rueda-Clausen and the team at the Pasqua Hospital gastrointestinal unit in Regina became the first in Western Canada to successfully perform the Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe) procedure. 

The Transoral Outlet Reduction procedure is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure designed to help patients who experience complications after bariatric surgery, particularly weight regain or severe rapid gastric emptying (dumping syndrome). Until now, patients often required surgical revision or had to travel out of province for advanced endoscopic care.

Performed through the mouth with an endoscope, no external incisions are required. The procedure reduces patient risk with a lower complication rate, faster recovery, improved outcomes of weight loss maintenance, and reduced symptoms of dumping syndrome.

“With the Transoral Outlet Reduction procedure, we can offer our patients a safer and more cost-effective option right here in Regina,” said Dr. Rueda-Clausen. 

The Pasqua Gastrointestinal Unit continues to lead in adopting advanced therapeutic endoscopy. By offering Transoral Outlet Reduction procedure and other innovative procedures, the team is expanding local access to treatments that once required major surgery, delivering safer care and better outcomes for Saskatchewan patients, a true representation of the SHA’s CARES values (compassion, accountability, respect, equity, and safety). 

The team at the Pasqua Hospital gastrointestinal unit in Regina became the first in Western Canada to successfully perform the Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe) procedure. From left: Dr. Chris Rueda-Clausen, Jennifer Taylor, Nicole McKinnnon, Nichole Leier, Ryan Del Bigiuo, Stacy Hubic, Ceigee Schrader

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is renewing and expanding its partnership with Surgical Centres Inc. to enhance access to timely care for patients across the province. 

Saskatchewan’s surgical teams have achieved record breaking volumes in the past two years: performing over 95,700 surgeries in 2023-24 and surpassing this total in 2024-25, with over 100,400 surgeries. Of these, community partners like Surgical Centres Inc. completed over 16,700 publicly funded surgeries — accounting for approximately 18 per cent of all core procedures in 2024-25 — helping ensure patients receive the surgical care they needed, sooner.

“Continuing the successful partnership we’ve established with Surgical Centres Inc. is a win for Saskatchewan patients,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said.  “The publicly-funded, private surgical facilities operated by Surgical Centres Inc. perform thousands of routine day surgeries each year, freeing up high-demand hospital OR spaces for more complex procedures. We appreciate the staff, surgeons, anesthetists, nursing and support staff for their dedication and ability to work with our health system to improve quality of life for patients.”

Building on the last two years of success, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is now targeting 450,000 surgeries by the end of 2028. 

“Each surgery represents a life-changing – and at times, life-saving – moment in someone’s life,” said Andrew Will, CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “That’s why Saskatchewan Health Authority is committed to advancing surgical services for the people of Saskatchewan by delivering timely, patient-centred care. By working together with partners like Surgical Centres Inc., we’re ensuring that more patients can access the procedures they need, when they need them, as close to home as possible.”

Through this renewed agreement, Surgical Centres Inc. will continue providing a wide range of day surgical procedures — including general surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, plastics and reconstructive surgery, ENT, pediatric dental/oral maxillofacial, urology, and vascular surgery. The expanded scope now includes gynecology, further broadening access to important surgical services for Saskatchewan patients.

Surgical Centres Inc. currently operates two centres – Prairieview Surgical Centre in Saskatoon and Regina Surgical Centre – and since 2012, has performed more than 181,000 procedures in partnership with the SHA.

“Since 2012, Surgical Centres Inc. has been providing publicly-funded surgical access and delivering high-quality, patient-centred care and as our partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority has grown, Surgical Centres Inc. has added capacity and is helping respond to provincial waitlists,” said Fatima Fazal, Regional Director of Operations and Innovation, Surgical Centres Inc.  “Our clinical teams remain focused on delivering safe, consistent, and compassionate care, ensuring patients receive the surgical care they need. Together, we remain committed to ensuring Saskatchewan residents receive the publicly funded surgical care they need, when they need it.”

This partnership, renewed through a transparent, competitive process, plays a vital role in increasing access to care, reducing waitlists, optimizing surgical capacity, and freeing up hospital operating rooms for more complex procedures for the benefit of Saskatchewan patients and families.