Moose Jaw podiatrist raising concerns over referral system

By Shawn Slaght

A Moose Jaw podiatrist and the Opposition NDP are concerned about Saskatchewan’s health-care referral system and the availability of MLAs.

Dr. Ata Stationwala practises at the Moose Jaw Podiatry Clinic, right next door to the constituency office of Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod, the province’s minister of mental health and addictions, seniors and rural and remote health.

Stationwala, a past president of the Saskatchewan College of Podiatrists, said he has spoken to McLeod on numerous occasions in the past about the fact that podiatrists cannot make direct referrals to health-care specialists.

“Should I or one of my colleagues see the need for patients to have a consultation with a specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon, we are required to request the consultation via the family physician. In short, this can cause delays in access to care,” Stationwala said during a media conference at his office on Friday.

He added that since McLeod has become part of the provincial government’s cabinet, it has become increasingly difficult to get a meeting with his next-door neighbour.

“I’ve had multiple meetings over several years with my local MLA. I contacted him again shortly after his appointment to cabinet as one of our ministers of health with no meeting or solution being offered to date,” Stationwala said.

He said he has also followed up twice with his office to set up a meeting, saying it would be in the best interest of the provincial government to allow podiatrists to make direct referrals.

“Allowing podiatrists to make direct referrals will save the system money and allow expedited access to specialists for our patients,” said Stationwala.

Also on hand Friday was Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat and Critic for Rural and Remote Health Jared Clarke.

“We need to make sure that people have access to health care, that they need when they need it, and it’s not acceptable for Saskatchewan people to have to go to the media to get the ear of their government,” Mowat said.

In a statement from the Ministry of Health, it said the Ministry has not received anything from the Saskatchewan College of Podiatrists for consideration.

“Podiatrists can refer a patient to any Saskatchewan specialist; however – under the existing regulatory framework – when it comes to payment for the specialist physician only specialists in pathology or radiology are eligible to bill Saskatchewan’s publicly funded health system for a consultation service when the patient is referred by a podiatrist,” the statement read.

“In January of 2023, the Ministry provided the Saskatchewan College of Podiatrists with the instructions and materials required to expand the list of these specialty areas that would be eligible when referred by a podiatrist.”