Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers, left, and Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young walk with Saskatchewan minister of mental health, addictions, seniors and rural and remote health, Everett Hindley, to chat with Residents in Recovery CEO Tyler Lorenz last Wednesday during a tour of health facilities in the city. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
He came, he saw, he conferred.
Everett Hindley, Minister of Mental Health, Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health is up to speed on health care issues and needs in Lloydminster following a recent tour of facilities supported by the Saskatchewan government.
Hindley regarded it as a listen and learn opportunity organized by Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young, starting with a visit to the Lloydminster Hospital and Jubilee Home last Wednesday.
“It’s an opportunity to get out firsthand and see some of the facilities in Lloydminster and talk to the staff and community about what’s working well and what some of the areas are that are identified as priorities, and some of the challenges we need to address,” said Hindley.
Young noted there will be follow-up conservations in Regina about prioritizing some of the health needs the tour identified in Lloydminster in the next budget.
One of the outstanding topics will be scheduling the date to begin the approved $1 million renovations to the exterior of the hospital.
“This is a priority for the community, it’s a priority for the MLA,” said Hindley
“I will be raising that with officials in Regina to enquire on the status and see what we can do to help make sure this is happening as quickly as possible.”
Hindley also spoke about the need for government funding for more hospital operating rooms that Young has been pushing for to reduce a province-wide backlog of surgeries.
“In this year’s budget we’ve got some funding specifically geared toward reducing the surgical backlog,” he said, noting they are not just targeting the major cities like Saskatoon or Regina.
“We are definitely looking at what Lloydminster might be able to provide with overall capacity.”
The need to replace Jubilee Home, which is about 30 years old and not up to current wheelchair accessibility standards, is also on Hindley’s radar following the tour.
He said he’s not aware of any specific replacement timeline, noting there is a ranking process in terms of needs assessments and other factors to be prioritized for the annual budgeting process.
Hindley notes the government has replaced 15 long-term care facilities since 2007 with Jubilee’s status on his follow-up list.
“We’ll be taking a look at Jubilee Home and see where that fits in amongst the other provincial priorities,” said the minister.
Cross-border issues also surfaced during a question to Hindley about a request from Hospice on the Border planners for operating funds at the proposed privately-financed and run facility.
He credited Young for bringing it to his attention and planned to meet with project officials face-to-face during the tour after a previous virtual chat.
“Lloydminster is a unique city because of the inter-jurisdictional challenges there,” said Hindley.
“So it’s a matter of also having those conversations with the Alberta government to see what their level of interest might be in that type of facility in terms of ‘has there been a needs assessment done to justify us going to the next step.’”
Hindley also met with Lloydminster Region Health Foundation CEO, Stephanie Munro, who said it was very important for Hindley to learn firsthand some of the issues in our city.
“I just want to emphasize to him the need for some sort of increase in mental health resources in our community,” added Munro prior to a board lunch with Hindley.
“I’m just honoured for him to be here and looking forward to having some conversations with him this afternoon and address some of the real needs of our community.”
Munro also reported the RFP has closed for the design of the renal dialysis unit in the Prairie North Plaza.
“So hopefully, that relocation will be happening in the very near future which will free up some space in the Lloydminster Hospital,” she said.
Tyler Lorenz, CEO of Residents in Recovery also relished an opportunity to show Hindley what they do for addictions treatment knowing their funding contract with Saskatchewan Health Authority is up for renewal in 2023.
“As well, I want to talk about psychiatric services in Lloyd,” said Lorenz.
“We would really like to have our voice heard and get the message across that we do need to improve our mental health abilities in the city.”
Hindley also met with a group from the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Society and privately with Mayor Gerald Aalbers. He also attended the Libbie Young Centre AGM that evening.
