Sask. NDP says referrals restrictions on podiatrists causing delays in care

” … podiatrists in Saskatchewan are not able to directly refer patients to health care specialists. This can cause delays in access to care which can be dire for patients in need of urgent treatment.”

Published Feb 04, 2024 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 2 minute read

Health care workers have solutions to improve wait times and save the system money but the Sask. government is refusing to listen to them, says health critic Vicki Mowat. Photo by Michelle Berg /Saskatoon StarPhoenix

The Saskatchewan NDP says restrictions on podiatrists to directly refer to health care specialists is causing a delay in care for those who need it.

“Under the current legislative framework, podiatrists in Saskatchewan are not able to directly refer patients to health care specialists,” said an NDP news release issued Friday. “This can cause delays in access to care which can be dire for patients in need of urgent treatment.”

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In Moose Jaw on Friday, official Opposition health critic Vicki Mowat and critic for rural and remote health Jared Clarke spoke to media alongside Dr. Ata Stationwala, a podiatrist and past president of the Saskatchewan College of Podiatrists.

According to the NDP, Stationwala has been trying to get “an audience” with Minister of Health Tim McLeod to discuss what they described as a “simple solution to a common administrative issue that is causing longer patient wait times and increased work for family doctors and foot specialists.”

“Health care workers have solutions to improve wait times and save the system money but this government is refusing to listen to them. The Sask. Party is making more and more decisions behind closed doors in Regina because they think they know better than front line workers,” said Mowat in a news release. “Let’s bring them to the table and actually deliver real solutions for patients.”

Adding to the problem, the NDP says, is the 200,000 Saskatchewan residents currently without access to a family doctor.

“Allowing podiatrists to make direct referrals will save the system money and allow expedited access to specialists for our patients,” said Stationwala. “In cases where our patients do not have a physician, we are forced to request the patient attend walk-in clinics or emergency clinics to gain access to specialist referrals. In my opinion, this is not an appropriate use of limited health care resources.”

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According to the NDP, specialists are not able to bill for consultation requests because they don’t have a provincial billing number, which makes the solution simple and free: allow podiatrists to make direct referrals.

“I am humbly requesting that the Ministry of Health make this a priority, and again put patients first,” Stationwala said in the release.

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