Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly Hears Story of Two-Year-Old Waiting for Spinal Cord Surgery | The Canadian News

Another day in the fall session of the Saskatchewan legislature brought another person affected by the slowdown in health services in the legislative chamber.

Two-year-old Blake Turnbull, who suffers from spina bifida and whose spinal cord clinic recently became inaccessible, was joined by his mother Sarah, who said she wants lawmakers to hear firsthand her concerns about the potential impacts of the slowdown. .

“I don’t trust our leaders, the people in this room, to make decisions to protect our fragile healthcare system,” he said.

“I’m supposed to be grateful, because two days ago they told me we could see our stunt team again. But I’m nervous. “

Turnbull explained that while he has been able to obtain private therapeutic care, the services of Blake’s neural, orthopedic and urodynamic specialists have been halted with the transfer of healthcare workers to COVID-19 related causes.

She says those specialists provide critical monitoring of Blake’s condition, and with crucial brain bypass surgery on the horizon, she’s concerned about the potential negative effect of monitoring gaps.

“The longer we wait for that particular thing, the scarier it will be as a mother,” she said.

Again, Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman was asked for a response.

Merriman said the decision to slow down services was difficult, but necessary, adding that the resumption of those services is underway with the reduction of pressures from COVID-19.

“We understand that those years of development are extremely important and I have been told that this specific service was in the process of being restarted,” he said.

But with officials like Dr. Shahab already saying diligence is needed to avoid a fifth wave and possible further impact on the health care system, Sarah Turnbull says it’s hard to hope.

“We ask you today to look at us and value our future and our lives so that we don’t have to pay the price for failure with our health and well-being,” said Turnbull.

“Please do better.”

1:59Are all deaths counted as the death toll from COVID-19 rises in Saskatchewan?