Sask. NDP raising concerns over long-term care in the province

The Saskatchewan NDP is voicing concern about long-term care in the province.

During the summer, residents from two long-term care homes were relocated due to mould and other maintenance issues.

• 'It's just not fair': 21 residents of Grenfell Pioneer Home face temporary relocation
• Mould at long-term care home in Regina forces 94 residents to move

The NDP says these issues stem from a lack of funding from the province for long-term care facilities, residents and staff.

"This is a government who has refused to acknowledge that there is a crisis in staffing in long-term care," said Danielle Chartier, the NDP's critic for seniors.

NDPLeader Ryan Meilialso referenced proposals from the provinceto move high-need seniors, also know as level three or four residents, from public long-term care homes into private care homes.

"We have a government that's put out tenders to change the practice in a very significant way," he said.

In an emailed statement, Health Minister Jim Reitersaid the the request for expression of interest is "an information-gathering exercise" and not a tender.

"The REOIs were issued to see whether any existing service providers might be interested in exploring options for meeting long-term care needs in Regina and the Grenfell area," the statement reads, adding the requests are just one of many options the government is looking at to find efficient ways to maintain and repair aging facilities.

Meilisaid the proposed move raises questions, including how private care for high-need residents wouldbe funded, and thegovernment should have consulted the public.

He said the move is concerning, suggesting the government is "giving upon doing what they need to do, which isinvesting and improving the quality oflong-term care."

The statement from Minister Reiter said long-term care services will continue to be publicly funded.

Reiter said the Saskatchewan Health Authority is responsible for determining where to allocate the $44 million provided for facility maintenancein this year's budget.