Language

Google Translate Disclaimer

A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:

Renseignements en Français

Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.

Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language. The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).

Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.

Saskatchewan Among Shortest Wait Times, Says Survey

Released on December 13, 2017

The latest annual Fraser Institute survey of doctors suggests Saskatchewan patients are receiving elective health services sooner than patients in most other provinces.

The national think tank’s results, issued December 7, rank Saskatchewan as having the second-shortest waits in Canada for patients seeking medically-necessary elective treatment, when the time waiting to see a specialist and the time waiting for treatment are combined.

This year’s survey estimates that half of Saskatchewan patients waited 19.8 weeks or less.

“Our government is proud of the successes the health system has achieved in improving access to surgery,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said.  “Further work is ongoing to reduce wait times for medical imaging and for appointments with a specialist.”

The Fraser Institute survey, based on estimates from physicians across the country, shows Saskatchewan tied for first in the country for wait times for CT scans and ultrasounds.  While the survey ranked Saskatchewan fifth for MRI wait times, the capacity for MRI services in Saskatchewan has more than doubled in the past decade to meet demand.  CT capacity is also up 48 per cent.

The Ministry of Health has worked with physicians and patients to develop innovative approaches for reducing the amount of time patients wait from referral to seeing a specialist.  Physician groups that have adopted the new referral model have seen significant reductions in their wait times and an increase in the level of patient and physician satisfaction.  The number of specialists in Saskatchewan increased 18 per cent from March 2014 to March 2017.

Based on the Fraser Institute’s survey results, the report estimates that Saskatchewan’s wait times for psychiatric services are the fourth-shortest in Canada, with half of patients seeing a psychiatrist within 19.2 weeks of being referred by a physician.

Provincial government spending on mental health and addictions services increased 44 per cent from 2007-08 to 2016-17.

See the full report, Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2017 Report at www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/waiting-your-turn-wait-times-for-health-care-in-canada-2017.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Shirley Xie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: shirley.xie@health.gov.sk.ca

We need your feedback to improve saskatchewan.ca. Help us improve