Patients welcome ER doc deal

Friday's agreement to give a Saskatoon emergency room more doctors is a relief to people who have first-hand experience with understaffing at Royal University Hospital.

Under the deal four new doctors will be added to the roster, which will allow two doctors to be on shift all day. Previously only one doctor was on the overnight shift.

When a cautionary letter written by emergency medical director John Witt reached the public on Thursday, the reaction from the Saskatoon Health Region and the government came swiftly.

• JAN. 23: Saskatoon ER doctors get a deal

A.J. Washburn, whose wife is at the hospital for a high-risk preganancy, says doctors should speak out more often.

"I've seen understaffing and patients backed up where you've had to wait minimum of three hours," he said, " the doctors have every right to, not so much demand, but request more personnel in the emergency room."

The new agreement will add $1.5 million to the health region's payroll and include a pay increase of about 15 per cent for junior doctors.

Patients who have used the emergency room say it's worth it.

Gerald Petit was rushed to emergency a week ago and doctors discovered he had a tumor in his heart. Within days, they operated to remove the tumor.

"I'd be dead right now if it wouldn't be for the professionalism of the doctors," he said. "They have people to look after. They can't do it under pressure. They can only do it when they're free to, to be able to do a good job."

Saskatoon's Health Region is also negotiating deals with emergency doctors at two other hospitals in the city.