Review of workplace culture at Regina hospitals complete, after allegations of ‘racism and ‘discriminatory leadership'
The province says the review was conducted by 'two highly respected medical leaders' from Ontario and Nova Scotia and includes 14 recommendations for the Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) and the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine.
To make the improvements the province says the SHA and SMA will be holding engagement sessions with Regina hospital physicians before finalizing an action plan.
Complaints over the work environment at RGH first came to light in November 2023 – when several doctors, who received their education and training in Africa and Asia, filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission – claiming white physicians were being given preferential treatment.
The province says it is also taking immediate actions to address some of the 14 recommendations from the review.
That includes restructuring the SHA's Senior Physician Leadership structure that was announced on June 12, working collaboratively with the SMA to finalize practitioner staff bylaws and launching the SHA's anti-racism strategy.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in the release that he has faith that the review's recommendations will benefit both doctors and patients.
That sentiment was echoed by both SHA CEO Andrew Will and SMA President Dr. Pamela Arnold.
'This review provides an opportunity to reset and build stronger relationships throughout the health system in Regina,' Arnold said. 'It will be critical to involve and engage physicians early and often to help build the trust necessary to do this very important work,' Arnold said.
The province says longer-term implementation of actions to address the 14 recommendations will be rolled out over the next six to 12 months.
The full review can be read here.
-More details to come…
-With files from David Prisciak and Wayne Mantyka
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