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Despite a recent five-week period where the main X-ray machine for a cluster of southwest Saskatchewan communities was down, local leadership in that area is applauding the response from the provincial government.
The X-ray machine in Shaunavon that services Climax, Frontier, Eastend and Shaunavon was out of order for about five weeks, from December 2025 through January 2026.
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“It took a while before word got around the community,” said Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Arlington No. 79, Don Lundberg. “People were obviously very concerned once they found out.”
Lundberg said the machine is aging and needs to be replaced.
“It’s harder to get the replacement components when something quits,” he explained.
A second X-ray machine in the area in Eastend is also non-functional. That machine is also older and still requires film to work, which Lundberg said the community isn’t able to procure anymore.
Lundberg said elderly community members in those two adjacent communities were being transported to Swift Current, Maple Creek and, in one case, Moose Jaw for X-rays during those weeks.
“Rather than travelling 10 kilometres, they were having to go 120 to 200 km for a simple X-ray,” Lundberg said.
“That’s the concern. If you don’t have a diagnostic tool like X-ray when there’s an accident, you’re pretty well handcuffed.”
Lundberg said representatives from southwest communities were able to meet with Lori Carr, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health, during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) annual convention last week.
The Reeve was pleased with the meeting.
“A lot of progress is being made. I believe the Shaunavon machine will be replaced shortly. It’s on the list to be done,” Lundberg shared.
A three-month wait is expected before the community might have a new machine, Lundberg said.
“They’ve been working on it now for a couple of months, so it just takes time to get things done and bring their replacement equipment in and get it installed and operational.”
While delays happen and “things don’t always work out as planned,” Lundberg said.
He noted that the communities in the southwest — specifically, the RM of Arlington #79 and the RM of White Valley #49 — will be responsible for covering the cost of the new machine, which will exceed $700,000.
He spoke highly of how the province has responded to concerns coming from communities in the southwest.
“Minister Carr is awesome. She does an excellent job. She’s really in tune with rural Saskatchewan and our needs, and is a very compassionate minister, especially for the elderly,” he said.
Lundberg said concerns still remain that the X-ray machine in Shaunavon might break again before it can be replaced. He noted, too, that discussions are happening to procure a new, digital X-ray machine for Eastend.
“We’re making progress on all fronts. It’s going very well,” Lundberg said.
— with files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie
