A post on social media shows a notice from the Saskatchewan Health Authority which indicates there was a temporary disruption to Saskatoon City Hospital’s Emergency Department on Tuesday. The notice says emergency services would be limited and the suggestion was to try one of the other hospitals.

Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat says it was Saskatoon’s first partial closure of an emergency department in Saskatoon in about three years. She doesn’t know how long it lasted, but the notice from the SHA said normal operations were to resume on Wednesday.

Mowat says including this temporary closure, there have been 54 emergency room closures across Saskatchewan since Scott Moe became Premier. She believes this is a stark contrast to the government’s plans announced about two months ago to alleviate pressures in Saskatoon emergency rooms and expand capacity.

She understands there is no quick fix, but says it begins with listening to healthcare workers and local communities where the healthcare facilities are. She believes bringing back local voices has to be part of the solution.