Politicians spar over long-term care in Saskatchewan

The NDP opposition is criticizing the government on the issue of health dollars and long-term care for seniors.

Leader Cam Broten said Thursday that there was little money in the budget to address concerns identified in a report on long-term care that was released in the fall.

Broten said he was concerned more money was being spent on consultants in the health sector than improvements to long-term care.

"I say that's a mixup," Broten said. "Those dollars that were seen with the 'Lean' project should go straight into front-line health care so that we have better care for seniors."

Saskatchewan's health minister, Dustin Duncan, countered that the government is improving care for seniors overall, noting that more than 90 per cent of seniors never go into long-term care.

"What the budget does recognize, I think, is that we need to provide those supports to seniors who live in their own homes," Duncan said. "[They] may not be in long-term care [and] may never be in long-term care."

The minister also pointed out that there was funding in the budget to support planning for new long-term care beds in Regina and La Ronge.