By Sheri Monk
Over 100 residents attended a meeting last Tuesday (June at Leader with NDP health critic Judy Junor, pleading for the politician to bring attention to the healthcare crisis. As of May 31, the Leader Hospital was closed to inpatient care, emergency service and anything other than routine services during normal business hours until further notice.

By Sheri Monk
The health region urges people not to refer to the Leader Hospital as closed. No, we’re supposed to say it’s experiencing a temporary disruption of service. Which is a little like saying New Orleans had saturation challenges posed by Katrina. Or that Michael Jackson is having a prolonged nap.
I like to call a spade a spade. And the fact of the matter is, the Leader Hospital is closing for awhile. Yes, it will be open during the day for lab work, foot work and X-ray work – I understand that. …

By Sheri Monk
Awarded Citizen of the Year by the town of Leader for 2009, Bill Clary is no stranger to volunteerism, or activism. In 2007, he ran against Wayne Elhard in the provincial election under the Green party banner and in 2008, he ran for the national Green Party against Conservative David Anderson. But now, he is leading the charge in Leader to buck the rigid rules and regulations of the healthcare system. Rules he believe are causing the temporary closure of his hometown hospital.

By Sheri Monk
Approximately 400 people attended a meeting at the Leader Community Hall May 27 to learn about the loss of the community’s use of the hospital.
As of May 31, the hospital will not provide emergency services, accept admissions or remain open 24 hours per day. Instead, it will be open during business hours for pre-booked services such as dressing changes, blood pressure checks, etc., as well as lab and X-ray services. Home care, community health services and long-term care are unaffected by the changes.

By Sheri Monk
On Friday, May 21, Leader EMS personnel staged a bicycle-car accident at 11:30 a.m. –  fittingly across from a playground.
The production was part of EMS Week, a North American event held annually to raise public awareness of EMS services, encourage safety and to recognize the hard work of EMS professionals.
RCMP attended the street stage, blocking off access to traffic as EMS brought one young actor to the hospital, while another was placed in a body bag.
The somber news spread through town by noon, with many residents unaware the scene was …

By Sheri Monk
The Leader Union Hospital may not offer acute care services or any admissions for six months and possibly longer. A public meeting will beheld May 27 at 7 p.m at the Community Hall – Cypress Health Region representatives will be in attendance. The decision to hold a public gathering came as a result of a meeting held on May 13 between the Cypress Health Region and healthcare staff working at Leader facilities to prepare for an anticipated lengthy disruption of service. As well, the health region met with …

The hospital is now reopened, as of the evening of Feb. 1.
An airborne asbestos threat at the Maple Creek Hospital caused its evacuation and the suspension of employees late last week. The facility was closed just after 5 p.m. on Feb. 25 because of concerns related to potentially loose asbestos. Patients were transfered or released and all staff were ordered to leave the building. The asbestos contamination was removed yesterday, and pending air quality results, officials are hopeful the facility will be reopened this week.
Beth Vachon, executive director of health …

By Sheri Monk
On Dec. 3, 2009, Jodi Stork welcomed a new member to her family – an insulin pump.

By Sheri Monk
On Feb. 8, CEO of Cypress Health Region Jim Hornell announced his resignation to accept a position in healthcare in Ontario. On Feb. 12, a deal for a new healthcare facility at Maple Creek offering increased services was announced after months of negotiations and temporary impasses. On Feb. 10, between the major announcements, a grief-struck woman with years of healthcare service experience granted The Badger an interview in an effort to illuminate what she believes must be done to save the system and ultimately, its patients.
When Brenda Andreas …

The following is a press release issued Feb. 12.
Agreement reached on new integrated health facility to be built in Maple Creek – New direction for healthcare delivery in the Southwest
Healthcare delivery in Southwest Saskatchewan is poised to take a new and improved direction as a result of a year and a half of intense discussions and negotiations and a commitment by the Saskatchewan government to support community and regional efforts to make improvements.
Representatives of the Southwest community, the Cypress Health Region and the Ministry of …