NDP raises concerns about emergency room overcrowding

The NDP is raising concerns about overcrowding in emergency rooms in Regina and Saskatoon.

According to the NDP, this past week both Regina hospital emergency rooms were at or over 100 per cent capacity, while in Saskatoon there were 67 more patients than there were beds.

This has led to patients being treated in what the government calls “overflow” areas. 

Health Minister Dustin Duncan said that part of the problem is that both Regina and Saskatoon have growing populations.

“We have tried to add to the capacity in the acute care system, especially in Regina and Saskatoon knowing that we are dealing with more patients, we are dealing with a greater population.”

Duncan said that solving the problem is not as simple as just adding more beds.

“For every bed that you add to the system you are going to fill the bed.”

The minister said that more needs to be done to divert people away from emergency rooms.

“A lot of people that are presenting to emergency departments we need to find … continue to find better ways to treat these people in the community.”