Released on January 28, 2015
Health Minister Dustin Duncan, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and five health regions – Regina Qu’Appelle, Sun Country, Prairie North, Prince Albert, and Sunrise – have signed a partnership agreement, as part of a shared commitment to patient first care and health system transformation.“We all share the same goal of providing quality, patient-centred care to the people of this province,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. “This new partnership provides an opportunity for ongoing collaboration with health care workers, who are vital partners in the continuing effort to transform our health care system.”
“This partnership formalizes an agreement to work collaboratively in our efforts to improve the delivery of patient- and family-centered care, allowing for all parties to have optimal discussions and input,” President of the CUPE Health Care Council Gordon Campbell said. “This venue will also provide CUPE an opportunity to engage in discussions on key issues with the Ministry of Health and regional health authorities, such as recruitment and retention, safety in the workplace and employee morale.”
“We are pleased to enter into this partnership with CUPE and the Ministry of Health” Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region Vice President of Human Resources and Communications Mike Higgins said on behalf of the health regions. “This presents an opportunity to work together in a spirit of trust and mutual respect to continuously improve the quality of care we provide to our clients and patients.”
Since the partnership was signed in October 2014, the parties are working together on common areas of interest, including:
- Promoting a culture of safety;
- Increasing employee engagement;
- Continuously improving the health system in a manner that supports the principles of Better Health, Better Care, Better Value and Better Teams;
- Discussing options to enhance the ability to provide quality health care through mechanisms such as regularization of work hours; and
- Stabilizing employee turnover, thereby increasing patients’ continuity of care.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: Tyler.mcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca
Tria Donaldson
CUPE Saskatchewan Regional Office
Phone: 306-531-6247
Email: tdonaldson@cupe.ca
Lisa Thomson
Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region
Phone: 306-766-5332
Email: Lisa.thomson@rqhealth.ca
Joanne Helmer
Sun Country Health Region
Phone: 306-842-8353
Email: Joanne.helmer@schr.sk.ca
Linda Lewis
Prairie North Health Region
Phone: 306-446-6625
Email: Linda.lewis@pnrha.ca
Doug Dahl
Prince Albert Parkland Health Region
Phone: 306-765-6409
Email: ddahl@paphr.sk.ca
Sharon Tropin
Sunrise Health Region
Phone: 306-786-0144
Email: Sharon.tropin@shr.sk.ca