Treating Patients at Risk of Suicide

Provincial Auditor Judy Ferguson released the second volume of her annual report on Thursday and provided eight areas for the Saskatchewan Health Authority to improve its processes. The report focused on the suicide issues in northwest Saskatchewan where the auditor points out the number of suicides exceeds the provincial average rate by almost 50%.

Judy Ferguson says protocols to identify and treat suicidal patients were not always followed by staff. She cited three instances where emergency department staff didn’t provide psychiatric consultation for patients with high suicide risk prior to their being discharged.

She notes that not only do health care staff in the region not receive sufficient training, the training varies. For instance nursing staff in the emergency department in North Battlefords Union Hospital receive online training related to mental health and suicide screen but staff at other emergency departments do not.

Ferguson points to lack of inspection of the physical space people at risk of suicide occupy, as in possible structures that could be used in attempting suicide, in the facilities in northwest Saskatchewan.

She suggests a formal assessment should be conducted by the Saskatchewan Health Authority as to why patients poorly utilize psychiatric services provided by telehealth – videoconferencing. Some years, missed telehealth appointments range close to 50%.

Helicopter Ambulance Services

Saskatchewan has welcomed STARS with open arms but the Provincial Auditor says the Ministry of Health needs to more actively oversee air ambulance services.

Auditor Judy Ferguson notes that on a per call basis helicopter ambulance services cost more than ground ambulance services. The Audit recommends the Ministry receive regular reporting on the quality and timeliness of patient medical care but also to identify barriers which would prevent STARS from responding.

Helicopter bases for air ambulances and fuel caches allow for flight coverage as far north as La Ronge and as far south as Estevan but the auditor would like to see criteria set out to support new helicopter landing zones.

Safe Drinking Water in Provincial Parks

The Saskatchewan Auditor in her latest report, doesn’t find fault with the safety of the drinking water provided in provincial parks, but rather with how up-to-date procedure manuals are kept. Judy Ferguson points out that not keeping the manuals current means it did not have documented procedures for key processes.

As an example three of nine parks did not have documented start-up and shutdown procedures for seasonal water system. Two of six systems regulated by the Water Security Agency didn’t have permit-required quality control procedures documented which the auditor points out helps staff clearly understand and know what is required.

Provincial Capital Commission

Judy Ferguson is calling on the Provincial Capital Commission to improve its processes for major developments in Wascana Centre and to increase transparency.

In the 2017-18 provincial budget, the governing body for Wascana Centre was dissolved and responsibilities transferred to the Provincial Capital Commission. The park was supposed to be preserved for five key purposes: Education, Government, Culture, Environment and Education.

The CNIB building was originally built in 1955 and in 2011 an engineering report indicated the building needed to be replaced. The NDP Opposition has described it as a sweetheart deal for Brandt Industries to replace the building reaping huge profits. As well, there were questions around who would be tenants in the new building.

This past March, the Provincial Capital Commission Board suspended any consideration of the proposed half-million dollar CNIB/Brandt office building in Regina’s Wascana Park until the Provincial Auditor’s office completed its report.

Judy Ferguson found numerous problems with that body, the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC), including how well it informs the public about major projects and recommends written, public consultation expectations and procedures. She also suggests sharing established process with the public. Finally, the auditor, without naming a specific project, said one of the two major projects in Wascana Centre, did not conform to the Master Plan but the Board still approved it at the conceptual design stage.