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Saskatoon’s three hospitals have received an upgrade, with the unveiling of 80 new acute beds.
Royal University Hospital now has 36 new acute inpatient beds, while there are 24 new acute inpatient beds at St. Paul’s Hospital. Additionally, 20 new medicine beds are available at Saskatoon City Hospital.
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With the 40 new medicine beds previously opened at City Hospital, the total number of new beds in the city over the past 12 months is up to 120, according to a release from the provincial government. A further 49 medicine beds are expected to be in place by March 2027, according to Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill.
The government announced the expansion at an event at Saskatoon City Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
“Today is an important milestone for Saskatoon and for patients across Saskatchewan,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in a news release.
“With the opening of these 80 new acute care beds, we are improving access to high-quality care, reducing pressure on our emergency departments, adding capacity and ensuring patients receive the right care, in the right place as close to home as possible.”
Saskatchewan Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill speaks to reporters at Saskatoon City Hospital on Oct. 20, 2026, with Premier Scott Moe standing behind him. (Libby Gray/650 CKOM)
According to the government, the new beds were put in place through a $73-million investment, designed to “help reduce pressure on Saskatoon’s emergency departments by reducing delays in hospital admissions and enhancing safety for both patients and staff.”
“When it comes to hospital care, putting patients first means more than just adding beds. It also means having the right healthcare professionals in place to deliver and offer that high-quality healthcare that Saskatchewan families expect,” Derek Miller, COO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said on Tuesday.
The staff required to support the new beds is in place at City Hospital, while the hiring process continues at the other two facilities.
A total of 39 positions remain open to staff added beds at Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital, Miller told reporters.
According to a government statement, “Over 150 permanent full-time positions were added at Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital to support the new inpatient beds. Additional physicians, nurses and a wide range of allied health positions are also being hired at Saskatoon City Hospital as part of the SHA’s broader effort to staff over 450 new full-time positions to support the hospital’s full acute care expansion.”
The allied health positions include dieticians, occupational therapists, clinical support staff, pharmacists, physiotherapists and specialized lab and medical imaging staff, among others.
When asked why recruitment for these acute care bed positions seems to be filling positions more quickly than other health care recruitment efforts in Saskatchewan, Cockrill indicated location could be a factor.
“It’s hard necessarily to compare community to community, but I’ll just say, you know, we are adding positions in our province’s largest city,” the health minister said.
“It’s a beautiful city. It’s a great place to live and a great place to move from if you’re from out of province. So I think that is helpful when positions are in a community like Saskatoon.”
Cockrill said progress has also been seen in hiring for positions in Prince Albert.
“People recognise that there’s opportunities here in Saskatoon, but there’s also opportunities in a Prince Albert or a North Battleford or a Yorkton or a Wayburn,” he stated.
— with files from 650 CKOM’s Libby Gray
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