Jeremy Cockrill, MLA for the Battlefords and Saskatchewan’s minister of health, poses for a photo outside his office in North Battleford. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

catching up with Cockrill

Battlefords could see better access to care under new Sask. health plan, MLA says

Mar 16, 2026 | 4:04 PM

A new provincial health-care plan aimed at expanding access to care could benefit residents in the Battlefords, Jeremy Cockrill says. 

The Battlefords MLA and Saskatchewan Health Minister pointed to the recently released Patients First Health Care Plan, saying recent recruitment efforts have already strengthened the local health workforce.

“We’ve had incredible success here in the Battlefords in the last couple of years through our rural and remote recruitment incentive, which has helped us fill a bunch of full-time positions,” Cockrill said.

“Nearly 100 full-time positions in our community alone were filled through that program.”

The province’s new strategy outlines broader efforts to expand primary care, strengthen recruitment and modernize how health services are delivered across Saskatchewan.

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It will “really focus on some pretty significant changes that we’re working on now and going to be working on more in the future in health care.”

The provincial plan focuses on connecting residents with a primary care provider and ensuring patients can receive surgery in a timely manner.

It stated nearly 20 per cent of Canadians do not have a regular primary care provider, such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner, contributing to longer wait times and added pressure on hospitals.

One of the plan’s key initiatives is expanding the role of nurse practitioners, who can assess patients, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications and refer patients to specialists.

The province has introduced a funding model allowing nurse practitioners to provide publicly funded primary care through independent contracts. Within the first six months, 23 contracts were signed, creating capacity to serve more than 18,000 patients who may not previously have had a regular provider. Each practitioner is expected to care for about 800 patients within two years.  

Some of those initiatives are already being tested in other parts of the province. The Regina Urgent Care Centre, which opened in 2024, has treated more than 65,000 patients, diverting many cases away from hospital emergency rooms. 

Meanwhile, the province’s Virtual Physician Program supports about 30 rural hospital sites and has helped prevent more than 5,000 potential emergency room service disruptions, according to the plan. 

The strategy also promotes team-based care, bringing physicians, nurse practitioners and other health professionals together to provide more coordinated treatment and improve patient access. 

It also calls for expanded virtual care and urgent care services to help patients find the appropriate care sooner and reduce pressure on emergency rooms. 

Cockrill said the changes outlined in the plan are intended to improve access to services across the province. 

“I think these additional initiatives outlined in the Patients First plan are going to really help improve access, in the long run, for people to the health care that they need,” he said.

The local MLA said more details about provincial priorities will be released when Saskatchewan tables its budget this Wednesday, March 18. 

“Protecting Saskatchewan through uncertainty,” Cockrill said when asked to describe the new budget.

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com