Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region supports province's move to single authority

The board of the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region has passed a motion to support the province’s move to a single health authority.

The motion not only supports the Advisory Panel Report, but adds the RQHR will work “to ensure the successful implementation of these recommendations.”

The region’s CEO, Keith Dewar, said the day-to-day hasn’t been easy for administration staff, given that they face the loss of jobs.

“They have families, they have lives, they have situations that they have to look after down the road right,” Dewar said.

“I think it is a testament to the people in the system, and all people in the system, that in the end they recognise they need to do their day jobs; they need to do their work for the people using the system.”

The province hopes the board of the new authority will be in place by fall 2017, but the whole process will take much longer.

Finances may be one of the big issues during the consolidation as RQHR is forecasting a deficit of around $9.4 million.

There has, however, been a small surplus recorded over the last two months.

Dewar said November through March is always the busiest and most expensive time for the health region.