Thank you Dwain. As you noted, Andy and I spent a lot of time in Saskatchewan communities.

We heard from 100’s of people from areas such as Big River, Spiritwood and Shellbrook who had already lost health services or who were terrified of losing their emergency services.

We often heard that people wanted to have a physician in their community but they also said that if they couldn’t get a physician that Saskatchewan needed to have another model to provide health care in rural Saskatchewan, especially in an emergency.

I did a lot of research, talked to experts here and elsewhere, talked to community leaders and health care workers who were all looking for solutions. As a final piece of the puzzle, I went to Ontario to see first-hand the Nurse Practitioner-led clinics they have there.

I talked with my colleagues in the NDP caucus – in particular former Health Ministers Len Taylor and John Nilson. I have also spoken with the previous Deputy Minister of Health and several Doctor’s. Out of this research and these discussions has come the Community Access Hospital.

This is a community hospital that can be led by an Nurse Practitioner.

These nurses would work in collaboration with nearby doctors if an agreement can be reached on a local basis or with a central pool of provincial physicians. It is essentially the next logical step in collaborative healthcare. It’s one that takes advantage over advances we have made in things like tele-health.

The Community Access Hospital would provide basic acute care and emergency services. Nurse Practitioners would have the authority to diagnose, treat, admit to hospital, transfer or refer. Such Community Access Hospitals would also have emergency medical technicians on site. In an emergency, residents could get treatment or if necessary, get safe referral and transfer to a regional medical centre or admission to a community access hospital if appropriate.

This model would build on the current primary health care clinics in which various health professionals play a role in a team approach to provide health care. The health system is evolving and health professionals have shown an interest and willingness to adapt. They are able to put their skills and training to use with new and innovative approaches. We think it’s time for another innovation.

We will have to do some work on changes to bring the model in on a larger scale, such as changes to give legal recognition to Community Access Hospitals, agreements with physicians, developing a provincial core of doctors and making training for Nurse Practitioners more accessible. But we would like to see some test sites proceed quickly.

Janice Bernier, the local candidate here, and I think Wakaw might be a good place to start, but, of course, that’s up to the community. We believe it’s about choice. It’s up to government to make choices possible.

We believe the Community Access Hospital is a practical option that puts people first. And putting people first should be what government is about.