Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion
It has been several years since babies have been born in Kindersley on a regular basis, but a new obstetrics program will be starting up early in September.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced on Aug. 24 that a revitalized obstetrics program is going to start on Sept. 4 at the Kindersley & District Health Centre. The release states that extensive development was undertaken to revitalize the obstetrics program in Kindersley and to create a team of health care professionals with the qualifications, training and medical privileges necessary to provide low-risk obstetrical services.
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A Primary Health Care Service Needs Assessment was conducted for Kindersley and, after consultations with stakeholders, the final report was released in 2015 and it identified that the lack of obstetrical services was a huge gap in the women’s health program.
Gayle Riendeau, executive director of acute care for SHA integrated rural health, said the work to establish a program in Kindersley has taken a long time to complete, but the wait is over and it is exciting news in the community.
“We’re excited that we’re finally at this stage,” she said, recognizing that it has been a work in progress. “We’re happy we’re now at this stage where we can say that we are ready to proceed with what will be a revitalized obstetrical program for Kindersley & District Health Centre.”
The needs assessment was commissioned by the defunct Heartland Regional Health Authority, Town of Kindersley and the ministry of health. Work on the assessment began early in 2014, and one of the more anticipated recommendations is being fulfilled next week.
Riendeau said the former obstetrics program in Kindersley was considered to be a low-risk program as well, so nothing is changing with respect to what will be done by physicians at the district health centre.
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