Moe needs to make health care count

How is Premier Moe keeping Saskatchewan stronger?

Would he like the constant stress of going to work every day knowing that he will have to work short-staffed? For so many health care workers, this is our normal. This impacts the patients, clients, and residents and staff that provide hands-on care and support. In long-term care, we have many residents with complex needs; it takes a lot of time to provide their care.

How does our premier justify care providers having to tell someone that we can’t do something they have requested because we don’t have time? It’s not fair to our residents. What is happening in long-term care is that residents are scared to request anything because they know that care providers can’t accommodate their request.

Health care program cuts, privatization and neglect in managing unsafe staffing levels have all come at the direction of our government and their fiscal policies.

We know that corporate tax breaks in Saskatchewan are a priority for Premier Moe. When will health care become important to him?

Too many hands-on care providers have not received any wage increases since 2016 — so jobs go unfilled, overtime demands increase and unsafe care and work environments have become commonplace.

Enough is enough, Premier Moe. It doesn’t take years for your government to add new MLA positions, and each year you enjoy cost of living increases. How about providing health care workers a fair contract offer that meets our rising cost of living? It’s not fair to patients, clients and residents when they have to wait, and it’s not fair to keep us waiting either.

Sandi Hankla, Saskatoon Hankla is a long-term care worker