Saskatchewan patients forced into hallway care as NDP highlights system failures

Mark Shyluk recounted that his 88‑year‑old father, Jerry Shyluk, who has early Alzheimer’s, was taken to St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon on July 27. After waiting more than two hours for an emergency‑room pod, he was placed on a stretcher in an ER hallway where he remained for roughly five days. The hallway environment was chaotic, with constant movement of staff, equipment and visitors, bright fluorescent lighting and no call button, leaving him unable to rest or receive privacy.

The incident was raised by the Saskatchewan NDP, with leader Carla Beck joining Shyluk in calling the situation a symptom of chronic underfunding and staffing shortages. Both argued that hallway care has become normalized in the province despite compromising patient dignity and safety, and urged urgent improvements to the healthcare system.