Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, SHA sign MOU for new urgent care centre in Saskatoon

Saskatchewan’s health minister says a memorandum of understanding between the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and the Saskatchewan Health Authority is a “huge step” towards the building of an urgent care centre in Saskatoon.

The “exciting partnership” created by the MOU was forged “to create a new approach to support development of our urgent care centre in Saskatoon,” Paul Merriman added Monday.

Ahtahkakoop Chief Larry Ahenakew called it a “historic signing” to create a “unique and mutually beneficial partnership.”

Under the new partnership, the building and land will be owned by Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments and leased to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, which will deliver the health services.

The new urgent care centre coming to Saskatoon is one of two centres that are part of the province’s $7.5-billion capital plan to stimulate economic recovery in Saskatchewan after COVID-19. The second centre, located in Regina, is currently being built.

Merriman said some of the delay for the Saskatoon urgent care centre is because of finalizing the partnership. Now that it has been done, the project will continue to move forward.

The UCC in Saskatoon will be a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week care option for patients requiring urgent medical attention that is not life-threatening. It will include care for mental health and addictions and will accept walk-in patients.

Mental health and addictions will also have a separate entrance to preserve dignity and support for people seeking those services.

Merriman clarified this won’t be a back door, but a side access point.

“We want to make sure they have all the privacy they need so they feel comfortable coming into this space,” he said.

Merriman called improving access to health care for all residents in Saskatchewan — including First Nations and Metis people — a top priority for the province. As part of the partnership, an emphasis on Indigenous healing practices will be present at the urgent care facility.

“We also respect that First Nation and Metis people have a rich cultural and traditional practice that are known to improve health outcomes,” Merriman said, noting this is a “new way of doing things” in Saskatoon.

Ahenakew said the UCC will be a vision of delivering enhanced health care to all residents of Saskatchewan to meet shared goals that include improved access to urgent care, new mental health services, development and new opportunities for training, and employment opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

“If there’s anything from the Indigenous community that we can incorporate to be able to speed up the healing process, whether that is mental health and addictions or on the physical side of things, we would be looking at incorporating that,” Merriman said.

The partnership between Ahtahkakoop and the province means project advances by identifying sustainable potential locations, design requirements for the facility and potential economic models, including project costs.

A final cost for the urgent care centre has not yet been calculated, but Ahtahkakoop will be responsible for paying for the construction of the building.

A location for the urgent care centre is still in the works.

Merriman credited the ministries of Health and SaskBuilds, the procurement part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments for the advancements so far in the creation of the centre.

“Developing trust and building relationships with our First Nations is an important and tangible part of moving forward together in truth and reconciliation,” Merriman said.

The health minister also noted his confidence in the success of the project and future partnerships with the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

Merriman also sees hope in the urgent care centre for the pressures facing hospitals and other health-care services in Saskatoon right now.

“This is one of many steps to be able to take the pressure off emergency rooms,” he said.

Merriman acknowledged the recognized delays at several Saskatoon hospitals.

Ahenakew says he sees the urgency and the need for the care centre and hopes it will help with waiting lists for services like diagnostic work, MRIs and X-rays. The chief also hopes for some economic benefit for the First Nation.

While it’s too early to discuss staffing numbers, Merriman estimated the scale would be similar to the urgent care centre being built in Regina.

He referred to the human resource plan announced about a month ago as the means to bring to Saskatchewan the necessary professionals to fill the needed positions at the centre.