Saskatchewan health-care providers go above and beyond

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Saskatchewan’s health-care system has been facing a chronic staffing crisis, yet health-care workers continue to go above and beyond to support patients, residents and clients across the province. During Health Care Providers Week, it’s important to recognize and appreciate the vital contributions of these dedicated individuals who hold the system together, despite mounting challenges.  

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Barbara Cape, president of SEIU-West, and Bashir Jollah, president of CUPE Local 5420, represent thousands of health-care workers across the province. From continuing care aides (CCAs) and lab technicians to dietary workers, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), clerical support, and plant operators, these workers are the backbone of Saskatchewan’s health-care system. Cape and Jollah have been raising concerns about the state of health care, highlighting issues ranging from understaffing and overwork to low morale and workplace violence. 

SEIU-West’s members provide a broad array of essential services that keep health-care facilities running smoothly. “They do everything,” Cape says, explaining that her members handle a multitude of tasks that might go unnoticed by the public — from managing payroll and running diagnostic tests to repairing infrastructure and preparing meals for patients. “They are everybody in the health-care system who’s not a doctor or a registered nurse.”  

Jollah says that CUPE members work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation services and mental health facilities, providing indispensable support at all levels. He says that chronic staffing shortages have led to longer wait times in emergency rooms and delays in essential services.  

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“If you don’t have enough staff to do the job, people go to emergency rooms and wait longer, and the frustration they feel is directed at the front-line workers,” says Jollah. 

Both labour leaders agree that staffing shortages are the most important issue facing Saskatchewan’s health-care system today. “The biggest challenge right now is short staffing,” Cape says, adding that the pandemic exacerbated the problem, making overtime shifts routine instead of rare. The strain has hit every sector — from acute care and long-term care to home care services — leaving workers burnt out and often working injured. 

Jollah adds that the impact of short staffing extends to basic care in long-term facilities, where understaffing prevents residents from receiving timely meals or daily care, such as showers.  

“These issues lead to even greater frustration and compound the workload on those still in the system,” he says. As a result, many health-care workers are taking early retirement or leaving the field altogether, which worsens the crisis.  

The mental and emotional toll is having an impact on all health-care staff. “I think the thing that I’m struggling with on behalf of my members right now is the mental health impact,” Cape says. 

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Both leaders indicate that short staffing, high living costs and the devaluation of frontline work has left many workers feeling demoralized. Workers often feel unsupported, as the province’s recruitment and retention efforts have been unsuccessful. Financial stress is also a growing concern for health-care workers, especially since the new Administrative Information Management System (AIMS) platform has created payroll errors, job posting issues and other administrative headaches. 

The problems are compounded by the privatization of health-care services, which Jollah argues is creating an unsustainable and inequitable system. Contract workers are often paid significantly more than regular employees, causing tension within workplaces.  

“When you’re paying contract CCAs sixty dollars an hour, but our members make twenty-four dollars an hour, it’s frustrating,” Jollah says. “Yet we’re expected to train these contract workers and show them around.”  

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Saskatchewan’s health-care workers remain committed. “Our members are part of these communities. They want to make sure health care remains accessible, even when the system isn’t supporting them,” Jollah says.  

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Cape echoes this sentiment, expressing admiration for her members who continue to show up, even when exhausted or working through injury, out of a sense of responsibility and compassion for the people they care for. 

Both union leaders stress that public support is crucial. Cape recalls the surge of community appreciation at the height of the pandemic, which helped sustain morale. However, she cautions that the public’s attention has shifted. “The public’s attention turned to the next thing,” she notes, urging people to stay engaged and continue advocating for health-care workers. 

They say the path forward involves more than temporary fixes. They are calling for long-term investment in recruitment and retention strategies that build a sustainable workforce.  

“It’s not enough to bring in temporary workers. We need to invest in those who are here, working in our communities,” Jollah says. Without a focus on retention, even international recruits brought in under incentive programs are unlikely to stay long-term, especially in rural areas. 

Political action is also critical. “Health care is not just a political issue; it’s a community issue. It affects every single one of us,” Jollah says.  

 THIS STORY WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION 

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