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YORKTON The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is calling for the government to save microbiology services at the Yorkton Regional Hospital lab. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is cutting microbiology testing from the hospital, which means starting Sunday, microbiology samples from the Yorkton and area will now be sent to Regina for processing. Although preliminary testing will be done in Yorkton, bacterial samples will be sent to Regina for cultures. When results are available, they will be emailed to the doctor. CUPE believes this will result in an increased workload for staff at the Regina lab and will cause delays that could have life-threatening consequences.
The Yorkton lab currently processes thousands of life saving tests per year. The government says there won’t be a delay in processing. “With only one courier a day from Yorkton to Regina, if you are not there by the cut off time – your specimen will not get to the Regina lab until the next day. If the roads are impassable due to snow, samples will not get to Regina in a timely manner,” added Renkas. Centralization of health services in Regina also increases workload for staff at the Regina lab. “Our members in laboratory services in Regina are already experiencing workload issues, especially with the increased demand due to COVID-19,” said Sandra Seitz, president of CUPE 5430. “It is clear that the SHA has been making decisions without fully thinking through the impacts on worker’s and our communities.”
By Ryan Young
Apr 30, 2021 | 4:22 PM
According to CUPE Local 5430, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is cutting microbiology testing at the Yorkton lab and starting this Sunday, samples from Yorkton and area will be sent to Regina for processing.
“Our Microbiology lab diagnoses critical illnesses such as staph infections, sepsis, meningitis, and post-op infections. The range of tests the government is cutting include microbial organism identification and sensitivity reporting, which is used to identify which treatment options should be given to patients to effectively counter infections,” said Linda Renkas, Regional Vice-President, CUPE 5430 in a news release.
“If treatment or diagnosis is delayed, the consequences can be life threatening.”
By News Room
Mar 12, 2021 3:01 PM
The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the Moe government is considering plans to cut services to the microbiology lab at Yorkton Regional Health Centre. The union calls it a betrayal of rural health services that will increase wait times for diagnostic services.
Sandra Seitz, president of CUPE Local 5430 says, “Rural health services have been struggling under this provincial government, and the cutting of microbiology lab services would further erode rural health care services in Saskatchewan,” She says, “Having to send samples to Regina would double the wait time for test results meaning rural patients are at a greater risk of delayed treatment.”