Hospital wait time possible factor in death

A long wait to see a doctor may have been a factor in one person's death at a Saskatoon emergency room.

The revelation came Tuesday after the Saskatoon Health Region released its review of 80 deaths in Royal University Hospital's emergency department.

• READ THE DOCUMENTS: Click here for the release from the Saskatoon Health Region

The review was launched after allegations by Saskatoon emergency doctor Jon Witt that patients were dying because of understaffing.

• April 6, 2004: Witt wants meeting with health minister

The review found another case where charting was so inadequate it was hard to say what happened to the patient. The cases were among those flagged by Witt, the former emergency director.

Health Minister John Nilson commented on the report saying Saskatoon is offering good health care, but there are still some challenges.

"The challenges are sometimes when some cases go ahead and there is a lot of activity – that they end up not quite following the normal course. But practically, in this case, virtually all the cases have been resolved," he said.

But the Opposition says the review points to a need for more health care workers. The Saskatchewan Party's Rod Gantefoer says there has to be a commitment to adequate staffing in emergency rooms.

"One is too many – and more needs to happen than just a bureaucratic response."

Saskatoon health officials are still looking into another 18 deaths. In six of those cases, patients had extremely long wait times to see a doctor.

The report makes 10 recommendations, including improving the information on medical charts, using a computer checklist when patients arrive at emergency and integrating ER departments in the region.