The Saskatchewan Health Authority has confirmed that Humboldt District Health Complex will see surgical services enhanced over the next few months. The release from the SHA falls in line with the Ministry of Health’s commitment to see increased funding to reduce surgical wait times. The availability of surgical services in rural areas can have an impact on wait times in larger centres, so hospitals in Humboldt and other areas will see additional staff.

The following details were included in the release:

“With the target to achieve 97,000 surgeries in 2022-23 we will be increasing the number and types of surgeries provided in all of our surgical sites across the province to ensure we’re fully utilizing our capacity.   This means that communities such as Humboldt will see a significant increase in their surgical volumes through expansion of their operating room hours and increasing specialists providing itinerant services to perform surgeries.  The Ministry had approved funding in 2020-21 additional equipment in Humboldt to increase their surgical capacity.  Other communities that will see volume increases include Estevan, Weyburn, Meadow Lake, Prince Albert, etc.”

Other sources note that the surgical capacity could potentially be doubled. Recruitment for positions is currently under way.