Saskatoon, the largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, is in the middle of a maternity care crisis. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses has previously sounded the alarm on chronic understaffing, compromised patient care and a shortage of operational beds. These issues are rooted in directly impacting the patient experience and safety. They pose significant threats to the health of mothers and newborns in the area.
The ongoing state of affairs in Saskatoon and Regina is shocking. We are currently most concerned about conditions in Saskatchewan, where the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses is in an ongoing struggle to draw attention to those worsening conditions. According to press accounts, both cities are suffering a staffing crisis. This gap prevents healthcare providers from providing the high-quality care patients deserve and require. The union’s advocacy highlights the urgent need for improvements to ensure that patients receive appropriate medical attention during a critical time.
In her report published on August 27, 2025, at 8:41 AM EDT, Stacey Hein of CTV News outlined the specifics of these challenges. In fact, the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses says Saskatoon’s maternity wards fail to reach acceptable safety standards. The implications of this are incredibly concerning to expectant mothers and families. According to the union, the bed shortage only adds to the crisis. This leads to increased overcrowding as well, adding even more strain to the staff already there.
As doctors and nurses keep sounding alarm bells, the impact on patient care starts to hit home. There is a direct link between under-staffing and a lack of quality care. It can threaten the safety of mothers and infants in this critical period of vulnerability. This gives the union a public platform to amplify and draw attention to these critical issues. This leads to urgent action from healthcare leaders to address the critical issues.
CTV News has further posted a video piece providing context to the key issues in Saskatoon’s maternity wards. It is our hope that this visual documentation will help to educate the public about the harsh realities that we as workers and patients are living through. The report encourages everyone involved in the management of healthcare to be proactive. It underscores a need to fully support solutions that improve patient safety and protect the quality of working life on maternity wards.
