The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) in Canada has introduced the Saskatoon Capacity Pressure Action Plan (SCPAP) to address hospital capacity challenges in Saskatoon.

Developed in alliance with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, the plan highlights immediate actions that include adding beds, staff support, and enhancing community care.

It also suggests long-term measures to meet future health service needs.

Despite previous investments, increasing population growth and changing demographics have strained the health system.

These investments include additional beds, staff, and ambulances, with ongoing initiatives to recruit and retain healthcare providers.

The current plan involves adding transitional beds, deploying primary healthcare staff, and increasing staffing at Royal University Hospital.

Immediate actions in the next 30 days include temporary staff deployment, enhanced weekend staffing, and improved adherence to overcapacity protocols.

Within 90 days, the plan aims to procure more community-based care beds, increase home and palliative care resources, and open additional ICU beds.

Further actions within three to six months involve rapid access to primary care, community-based programming, home health monitoring, and an assessment of inpatient bed and long-term care needs.

The SHA maintains ongoing engagement with frontline staff to adapt the plan based on their feedback.

SHA CEO Andrew Will said: “We acknowledge that current hospital capacity pressures create a difficult environment for patients who are seeking care in our emergency departments, and for staff and paramedics who have continued to provide excellent care.

“With the release of this action plan, the SHA is committed to taking concrete action to address the immediate capacity pressures facing staff and patients, while also implementing long-term solutions to strengthen health services in Saskatoon.”