NDP, Sask Party, Health promises, Sask. election.

The health ombudsman idea of the Sask. Party seems like a good one. Both parties seem to be anxious for anal examinations for their citizens!

NDP, Saskatchewan Party unveil health promises
Last Updated: Monday, October 22, 2007 | 12:46 PM CT
CBC News
The New Democrats and the Saskatchewan Party both put the health care system on their agendas Monday — with the NDP promising a new day surgery centre and their opponents promising to fix what ails the system.

The New Democrats said they'll build the new surgical care centre in Saskatoon if they are returned to power in next month's election.

The centre will be in addition to one already planned for Regina. Whereas the Regina centre will be equipped to handle up to 10,000 surgical and diagnostic procedures a year, the proposed Saskatoon centre will handle 20,000 annually.

NDP Leader Lorne Calvert said he will also launch a colorectal cancer screening program and a free human papillomavirus vaccine program to protect women against cervical cancer.

Elsewhere, Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall was announcing what his party would do to fix what he called the "the health care crisis."

He said a Saskatchewan Party government would create a health care ombudsman for patients to turn to when concerns arise about the health care system.



He also said a Saskatchewan Party government would buy new emergency equipment including an air ambulance and provide an extra $40 million over four years to strengthen cancer care in such areas as colorectal screening.

The Saskatchewan Party also said it would launch a "patient first" review of the health care system to ensure that health care dollars are directed toward improving front-line care for patients.

The provincial election is Nov. 7.