Group protests eroding rural health services at start of spring sitting

People who live in rural communities met the start of the Saskatchewan Legislature's spring sittingwith a protest.

A busload of about 80 people, mostly from Craik, Sask., rallied outside the legislature over the lunch hour on Monday to express concerns regarding the erosion of health services and emergency care in the rural community.

Rick Rogers, the mayor of Craik, said he is worried about the centralization of medical services in the town of Davidson, Sask., which is located about 30 kilometres away.

"I don't know about you, but if I had a stroke or a heart attack, I wouldn't want to wait that 30 kilometres to see a doctor," Rogers said.

David Ashdown, another protester, said there is a big difference between going to seea doctor in Craik and in Davidson.

"If the ambulance is coming from Davidson, the ambulance is going to take about 30 minutes," Ashdown said. "It can take you a minute-and-a-half over to the Craik health centre."

The protesters also wonderedwhether this will mean an end fortheir hospital.

Greg Ottenbreit, the minister for rural health, denied such a plan exists.

Craik is located approximately 118 kilometres northwest of Regina.