Despite the popular notion that Saskatchewan has a shortage of healthcare workers, and hardships when attempting to recruit more, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is vowing to hire an additional 500 staff at Saskatoon City Hospital.

The growth comes alongside a physical expansion of the hospital, which is projected to house 109 new acute care beds. The Provincial Government announced the $15 million project yesterday.

CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Andrew Will, says the new beds will bring the number of acute care beds in Saskatoon to 879. The allotment includes 22 acute rehabilitation beds, 12 acquired brain injury beds, 60 general medicine beds, and 15 high- acuity beds.

“On average, we have 55 patients waiting in emergency departments for acute care beds. By adding these 109 beds, we directly reduce the number of patients waiting in emergency departments for admission to acute care.”

Will adds that the renovations and recruitment of new staff will take some time, so we can’t expect to see all of the beds come available until 2026. He explains that they will be brought in over the next 12 to 16 months in four separate phases.

He also broke the news that the period of shortened emergency hours at Saskatoon City Hospital will be extended for another week as they explore options on how to restore full service. The shortened hours began on February 14th.

This comes as Saskatoon City Hospital is deploying its physicians to the city’s other two hospitals to ensure a full complement of staff are able to work at those locations.