Ile-a-la-Crosse Citizens Praised For Doctor Rally

Monday, June 06, 2011 at 13:14

A northern Saskatchewan health region says a rally by citizens in Ile-a-la-Crosse in support of the community’s doctors this past Friday will help the cause.

Richard Petit is the CEO of the Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health Authority.

Petit says he’s happy the community has voiced its concerns.

He says there should be six physicians in Ile-a-la-Crosse, but that number has been down to three or four in recent months.

Petit says the health region now has more ammunition as it develops a business case with Northern Medical Services for more government funding for recruiting physicians to the northern village.

He says the appeal will be made to both the federal and provincial governments, because the doctors in Ile-a-la-Crosse serve reserve residents in northwest Saskatchewan, as well.

In the meantime, Petit says a nurse practitioner has been assigned to Ile-a-la-Crosse to relieve some of the pressure, while the NMS has been providing some replacement doctors.