The Saskatchewan Health Authority has provided firm dates for the reopening of emergency rooms in the West Central Region.

Emergency room services in Kerrobert, Biggar, and Leader were originally suspended on May 21st as part of the Health Authority's COVID-19 response plan.

"We are doing this as part of preparation for a potential surge of cases or an outbreak, and we're taking advantage of a time when we are fortunate in this province to have low numbers," Dr. Wasko said. "So we have the time to be able to prepare staff for the fact that there will be an orientation, and perhaps training of certain skills to be able to work in a different location should a surge of cases occur. That's why we're being proactive at this point of time, and not trying to fulfill all of that during the midst of a crisis."

The public response to the suspensions included a lot of anger and confusion. Many questioned the Health Authority's communication with local officials and with declining active cases, why the suspensions went ahead at all. The suspensions generated so much fury that plans for protests began to form. Announcing that the emergency rooms would be reopening 'as soon as possible' caused the protest planning to slow.

In recent days, rural residents were beginning to re-organize as active cases continued to decline and emergency rooms remained closed. Many of the complaints pointed specifically to no official dates for reopening.

Health Officials have now provided those specific dates. Over the next few weeks 8 of the 12 suspended emergency rooms will reopen. Kerrobert, Biggar, and Leader are included in those eight.

  • June 12 – Kerrobert
  • June 16 - Leader and Arcola
  • June 18 – Preeceville
  • June 22 – Biggar and Oxbow 
  • June 24 – Davidson
  • June 25 - Herbert