It was a week ago that the story of four-year-old Blake Turnbull was highlighted during Question Period at the Saskatchewan Legislature, but her family’s plight was brought up again today, with an update. Blake is in need of a pediatric gastroenterologist, but the last one in the province is closing her practice and so far, there are no replacements.

Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck says the day after the family visited the Legislature, one of Blake’s interim tubes pulled out and they had to drive overnight to Edmonton for emergency surgery. When they got back, a letter had arrived from the Saskatchewan Health Authority which stated that because there are no pediatric GIs in the province right now, Blake would be taken off the wait list and wouldn’t receive a referral until alternative solutions for these services had been found. Beck asked the Premier, “Is this growth that works for everyone?”

Premier Scott Moe answered that they are working on enticing pediatric GIs to the province. The budget for this year includes $2.5 million for a comprehensive pediatric GI program at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. Health Minister Paul Merriman said he would look into this. He assured the house and Blake’s family that nobody is being kicked off a wait list.