Head office for Saskatchewan health authority to be in Saskatoon

SASKATOON The head office for Saskatchewan’s new single provincial health authority is to be in Saskatoon.

The government says a number of locations were considered, but Saskatoon was chosen because it is centrally located.

It also says the city is close to the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and will be home to the new children’s hospital when it is completed.

The Saskatchewan Party announced in January that it was merging the province’s 12 health regions into one provincial health authority by the fall.

The move has prompted an angry response from healthcare unions worried about potential job losses and patient care.

The government says management and support services will continue to be located in Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and other major communities.

Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie says he’s happy with at least that.

“This new executive leadership model will establish senior management positions here in Moose Jaw, and that is something I am happy for,” he says. “Going on in the future, this announcement will not stop me from pursuing other opportunities from the province that may present themselves for our city.”

The name of the new provincial organization will be the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Health Minister Jim Reiter has said in the past that a single health authority will mean better co-ordination of services and give the government control over how much officials will be paid.

On Monday Reiter said the potential savings from the amalgamation are estimated in the range of $10 million to $20 million by 2018-19.