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Merriman defends dismantled field hospitals as COVID-19 again dominates question period

In a query interval once more dominated by Opposition criticism of the Saskatchewan authorities’s COVID-19 response, Well being Minister Paul Merriman was requested to defend a call made in June to decommission pandemic subject hospitals.

“Why dismantle the sector hospitals if you knew they have been going to be wanted?” requested Saskatchewan NDP Chief Ryan Meili within the chamber Monday, referencing June 15 COVID-19 modelling that predicted a spike in circumstances over the next months.

In response, Merriman mentioned “the advice for dismantling” the 2 subject hospitals got here from the Saskatchewan Well being Authority. He mentioned the current want for ICU-patient switch to Ontario arose from a scarcity of expert health-care employees moderately than beds or tools.

“These subject hospitals have been dismantled however we made positive the human assets have been in the proper place on the proper time.”

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Learn extra:
Saskatchewan Well being to decommission COVID-19 subject hospitals in coming weeks

Talking to reporters following query interval, Merriman mentioned the tools and beds arrange within the subject hospitals have been redistributed across the province after the closures.

“The modelling we had at the moment, which was the primary modelling that we’d ever seen, was very scary numbers. We needed to be ready for that,” Merriman added.

Positioned in Saskatoon at Merlis Belsher Place and the Worldwide Commerce Centre in Regina, the sector hospitals have been set as much as help about 300 to 650 sufferers mixed if wanted. They have been arrange early within the COVID-19 pandemic to cope with potential elevated affected person volumes.

Saskatchewan Well being Authority CEO Scott Livingstone in June that “the creation of those subject hospitals have been a vital part of our defensive technique. And whereas we proceed to watch COVID hospitalizations and guarantee surge plans are in place, we imagine subject hospitals not have to be a part of these plans, and are very happy that we by no means had to make use of them.”

Learn extra:
COVID-19: Lively circumstances lowest in over 2 months as Saskatchewan provides 3 new deaths

Meili additionally once more used query interval to counsel the federal government might have acted sooner to enact masks and vaccine mandates and to request federal help to bolster well being care staffing. Merriman used his responses to thank well being care employees and tout the current activation of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre.

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“A part of their course of is to succeed in out to different provinces and different states to see if there’s assist,” he mentioned, including the province has been in fixed

NDP Municipal Affairs critic Matt Love, in the meantime, requested why Authorities Relations Minister Don McMorris indicated to Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark {that a} proposed bylaw limiting gatherings within the metropolis wouldn’t be supported by the province. The bylaw was finally voted down by Saskatoon metropolis council.

“Why is that this authorities stopping the town of Saskatoon kind taking the general public well being management that consultants are calling for?” he requested

McMorris responded that “cities have the duty of their very own services”.

“They will decide how many individuals can attend a live performance, for instance. We now have the duty on so many different fronts, comparable to well being care. Town of Saskatoon knew what the response could be and I feel that was mirrored of their vote.”


Click to play video: 'Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman defends actions as COVID-19 surges in province'







Saskatchewan Well being Minister Paul Merriman defends actions as COVID-19 surges in province


Saskatchewan Well being Minister Paul Merriman defends actions as COVID-19 surges in province – Sep 29, 2021

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