REGINA – The latest healthcare controversy at the Legislature concerns reports of cockroaches at Regina General Hospital.
The issue was raised in Question Period Monday by Opposition Rural and Remote Health critic Jared Clarke, following a number of reports that have circulated on social media in recent days. One leaked email Indicated that the problem was impacting the mother and baby unit of the hospital, with staff advised not to step on the roaches in case they spread more eggs and cause a bigger problem.
In response, both Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill and also Saskatchewan Health Authority COO Derek Miller have confirmed there were incidents in October of cockroaches at the mother and baby unit of Regina General Hospital, but that the issue has been dealt with.
“My understanding is there’s reports of cockroaches found in two rooms of the mother and baby unit at Regina General. Immediately, Saskatchewan Health Authority cleared those rooms and did an investigation. It was found that cockroaches were brought in by a patient and their family,” said Cockrill.
“You know, the reality is that regardless of how people show up, the Saskatchewan Health Authority‘s job is to provide dignified and respectful care to whoever shows up at our door. So, obviously, when situations like this are discovered, those rooms are blocked off. Saskatchewan Health Authority works with pest-control vendors to make sure that that can get cleaned up. And again, patients at the end of the day, however patients show up, we want to make sure that they are looked after — and all the patients as well at the facility — that they have access to a clean and dignified space for safe care.”
It was Cockrill’s understanding in speaking to SHA that there has not been evidence of any cockroaches in that unit since that time, he said.
Miller described how the SHA typically responds to pest reports.
“Obviously safety is our top priority and we work immediately to investigate,” Miller said.
“If there is a pest concern we work with a pest control vendor to help us respond to that. And once the pest has been eradicated we do follow up monitoring. We also communicate with staff, (if) they happen to witness something or see something, then we’re able to act quickly. It’s part of our protocol that we have, it’s unfortunate, but as the Minister mentioned, our role is we need to care for all people that walk through our doors. And health facilities are high traffic areas with people coming from all environments, so that’s always an our priority to respond in a safe way.”
The reports of roaches at Regina General come on the heels of several news reports this fall about various issues at SHA health care facilities, including more instances of rural hospital closures as well as patients being treated in the hallways outside the ER at Royal University Hospital.
In speaking to reporters about this latest story, the NDP's Clarke said it was “super concerning to see this,” but said he would “take the minister’s word that this has been dealt with.”
“But we also hear reports of mice feces in a room in the hospital,” Clarke said.
“When you have infestations of cockroaches and mice in a hospital, that is deeply concerning. People are there to get care, they are sick, they need their room to be clean and free of pests, and I think this is just another indication that healthcare has never been worse now than ever under this government, and after 18 years of the Sask Party government.”
On the issue of mice droppings, Miller did not confirm any recent incidents, but did say they have ongoing monitoring for that and he acknowledged “occasionally that may happen.”
Miller said if there was evidence of mouse droppings, then they would respond quickly to it in a similar process using a pest control vendor to ensure the facility is pest-free.
