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The new Regina Breast Health Centre is set to officially open its doors to patients next week. In a news release Monday morning, the province said the centre will provide a variety of services, including diagnostic imaging, biopsies, specialist consultations, patient education and navigation, as well as future on-site post treatment therapies and rehabilitation. "The centre really demonstrates our government's commitment to improving access and enhancing health services for women in Saskatchewan," Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said at the centre's grand opening ceremony Monday.
The minister said the new centre will reduce long wait times for women seeking diagnostics and treatment in the province. Patients will require a referral from a family doctor to access the breast health centre. Sask.
Cancer Agency says mammogram wait times vary across the province, and patients say options unclear Sask. NDP says too many women have to travel out-of-province for breast cancer care Health-care workers reassigned to centre from Pasqua On Monday, Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP sent out a news release stating that leaked messages reveal the Sask. Party broke what the Opposition called a key election promise by "quietly reassigning staff from existing health facilities to the new Regina Breast Health Centre, rather than hiring new healthcare workers as promised.
" Since June 2024, the government has said the new building would boost capacity and bring in out-of-province recruits . The Opposition said that has not happened. "Behind closed doors, the Sask.
Party has been moving staff from the Pasqua Hospital's Breast Assessment Centre, raising fears that it may soon close," the NDP said. One of three leaked emails the Sask. NDP released to the public Monday morning.
The messages show that some health care personnel are being reassigned to the new breast health centre from Pasqua Hospital's Breast Assessment Centre. (Saskatchewan NDP) Cockrill confirmed that four staff members are being reassigned from the Pasqua assessment centre to the Regina Breast Health Centre. As for those not transferring over from Pasqua, Cockrill said he could not speak to where new health-care professionals were hired from.
When asked at the grand opening if the four health-care professionals would be returning to Pasqua, or if four new staff members would be hired at the new facility eventually, Cockrill said the Ministry of Health has to follow its collective bargaining agreements when "moving stuff around" and that there is a "process for that." He said he could not speak specifically to the bargaining agreements. Surgery wait times, new beds major focuses in Sask.
's health budget 'Under one roof' Cockrill said he believes having a space outside of a hospital setting under one roof to "streamline" patients through the breast cancer detection and treatment process is important. "I heard directly from survivors that every experience is different. It's not uniform," Cockrill said.
"That's why having things under one roof. Having staff that are working together as a collaborative team is so important in terms of making sure whatever that journey may look like, whatever the order of operations is, that Saskatchewan women can get the best care possible close to home." Brittney Senger, NDP critic for the status of women, says the province is not 'doing the hard work of building out that capacity, recruiting, retaining new health-care workers.
' (Richard Agecoutay/CBC) According to the Official Opposition's release about the leaked messages, the party sees things differently. "This government isn't going to change anything if they just move people from one building to another. We need to focus on the future and hire more health-care workers," said Brittney Senger, Sask.
NDP critic for the status of women. "It's all about flashy headlines for the Sask. Party old boys club.
They don't give a damn about women's health." Meanwhile, in the province's news release, breast cancer survivor Briana Bolduc said the familiarity of having appointments in the same location will provide "a much-needed sense of comfort and help reduce anxiety during a really difficult time." "Anything that makes the cancer journey a bit more manageable is a win, and I am grateful this centre will exist for those who need it.
" In one leaked email obtained by the NDP, Pasqua Hospital employees in Regina asked for confirmation and clarification of their transfer to the new building, noting that "other technologists" at the Pasqua's Breast Assessment Centre have already been reassigned. Mammograms are one service that will be offered by the Regina Breast Health Centre, beginning April 23. (Chris Edwards/CBC) Another message the NDP obtained claimed the current Breast Assessment Centre inside the Pasqua Hospital is "not going to exist in the coming month.
" The insider said they are "moving into a new building and it will be called the Breast Health Centre." In a news conference on Monday, Senger said the province is "not doing the hard work of building out that capacity, recruiting, retaining new health-care workers. This is more a question of reallocating existing resources within the system.
" The province said it has put $8.5 million toward opening the new facility, including building renovations, diagnostic equipment and staffing. The Regina Breast Health Centre will accept patients beginning April 23 at 1621 Albert Street.
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