“Saskatchewan is now in the tragic position where someone in a serious accident may not only have no ICU bed available for them, but should they pass away, they could also not be able to help others with lifesaving organ donations.” That, from NDP Leader, Ryan Meili, who is calling on the provincial government to secure desperately needed federal health resources to limit the impact of service slow downs and work to resume urgent cardiac and brain surgeries, and organ transplants.

He notes that this week the Saskatchewan Health Authority confirmed that due to ICU bed shortages, the province was no longer able to perform most organ transplants and is cancelling cardiac and brain surgeries. Meili adds that the federal government has confirmed they are ready to provide a range of assistance to provinces, including Canadian Red Cross resources, aero-medical evacuation capabilities, and military medical resources.