Sask NDP says overcrowding in Saskatoon’s two main emergency rooms has reached a breaking point, with nearly twice as many patients as space and some being treated in public hallways.Front-line staff said that 93 patients were crammed into the Royal University Hospital emergency department on Tuesday, which is meant to handle a maximum of about 45 patients. Stretchers lined corridors, leaving people without privacy. At nearby St. Paul’s Hospital, 53 patients occupied a space designed for 28, forcing some to receive care in the waiting room.“This is a crisis, not a coincidence,” said Sask NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat. “When nearly 100 people are packed into an ER designed for half of that, with patients on stretchers in hallways, no curtains, no privacy — this is a clear sign our healthcare system is overwhelmed. People deserve better, and healthcare workers deserve better.”.Mowat said staff have repeatedly reported burnout, unsafe conditions, and shortages of beds and equipment. Last fall some described the Royal University ER as a “war zone.”Sask NDP blames years of underfunding and notes the March budget trimmed healthcare spending by $17 million, a number the Sask Party government disputes.It is demanding the Sask Party government reverse the cut, hire more staff across the province, and immediately publish an action plan for the two hospitals.The Saskatchewan Health Authority has acknowledged overcapacity pressures in Saskatoon before and in 2023 promised an assessment of how many beds are needed to meet demand. .Overcrowded emergency departments have been a recurring problem across the province. The Sask NDP argues conditions have deteriorated and warns patients could face longer waits and poorer outcomes unless the government moves quickly.“This isn’t just about numbers — it’s about real people waiting hours in pain, seniors stuck on stretchers in hallways, and families worried sick,” said Mowat. “This government has ignored warning after warning from healthcare workers.”
