The only hyperbaric unit in Saskatchewan is in use at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital, but there currently are no plans to include it in the new hospital.
“Right now, we don’t have plans to move it because there’s not any space built into the new facility for it,” said Bert Linklater, senior executive director of operations with the Five Hills Health Region (FHHR). “We sent correspondence to the Ministry of Health and asked them for direction on where the unit should be located and how it should be provided … So we’ve asked them to give us some direction as to how they want us to proceed.”
He said if the unit were moved, the equipment would also need to be replaced because it is about 20 years old. He said if the ministry sees it as a provincial program, the FHHR should be funded for it. Alternatively, if the ministry doesn’t want it located in Moose Jaw, he said it’s up to the ministry to decide where it should be located instead.
“We’re waiting for a final response from them,” said Linklater, adding he had no inclination of how long it might take to hear back from the provincial health ministry.
For more information, see an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
