By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Greg Ottenbreit gave local nurses his undivided attention during a meeting at a Davidson restaurant on Tuesday.

The province’s minister for rural and remote health met with the nurses for an hour and a half to discuss staffing levels at Davidson Health Centre.

Speaking to the Leader, Ottenbreit described the visit as a “very positive meeting with a lot of good information” and said the nurses expressed their position well.

The nurses went public last month with their concerns, saying the centre is understaffed and arguing that the situation is putting patients at risk.

Several nurses visited Davidson town council as a delegation in August, asking for council’s support as they pushed for increased staffing.

Some patients and their families have also spoken out since then, detailing how service disruptions at the centre resulted in them being sent home or transferred to other facilities.

The nurses had written letters to several government officials, including Ottenbreit, who responded by arranging a visit to discuss the situation in person.

The minister said he had visited Davidson Health Centre last year and spoken with some of the nurses then, but this was the first time he had met with them on this matter.

Ottenbreit said the conversation centered around staffing levels and the nurses’ desire to have a higher complement of registered nurses (RNs) working at the centre, but he provided few details.

Asked if the nurses’ concerns had merit, he said he hasn’t personally been present at the centre during peak operating times, though he understands their position.

“I take the nurses at what they’re communicating,” he said. “We take that seriously.”

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — They were a small but determined group: the fighters, the survivors and those left behind.

They came together last weekend to continue the fight in a big way.

After a multi-year hiatus, the town-wide Terry Fox Run came back to Davidson on Sept. 18, drawing almost three dozen participants to raise funds for cancer research and awareness.

Cloudy skies, a sprinkling of rain and even thunder did not daunt them, as they took to the community walking trail on foot, on bike and in strollers.

In combination with events held at Davidson School the previous week, a total of $6,078.06 was raised locally for the Terry Fox Foundation this year.

“I spent the whole afternoon rolling coins and counting cash,” said organizer Marie Nadeau, who led a team of nine volunteers.

She said she was almost overwhelmed, adding, “I didn’t think we would do that well.”

Thirty-five participants showed up for the walk on Sunday, including 13 children. Marie Nadeau and a team of nine volunteers.

Between the school and the town-wide events, a total of $6,078.06 was raised for the Terry Fox Foundation.

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON —  A recent hospital stay for John Sinclair included an unexpected field trip to Rosetown.

The 77-year-old man was in the midst of a two-week stay at Davidson Health Centre, suffering from viral pneumonia and recovering in the acute care ward.

As Sinclair told the Leader, he was told in early September that he would have to leave the health centre for a couple of days due to a service disruption, caused by a staffing shortage.

Sinclair, who is diabetic and uses a walker, said he was given the choice of going home or relocating to the Rosetown and District Primary Care Centre temporarily.

Not feeling well enough to return home, he went for the second option, leading to a two-hour ambulance ride and, ultimately, a three-night stay in Rosetown.

“I didn’t want to ride in an ambulance,” he said Thursday. “They did as good as they could, but an ambulance isn’t a smooth ride.”

Sinclair said he has no complaints about the quality of care he received in Davidson, but he is concerned about the working conditions, particularly for registered nurses (RNs).

“The whole staff up there is wonderful,” he said. “There’s no way they should have to work the hours they’re working.”

Sinclair has added his voice to a growing chorus of concerns about recent service disruptions at Davidson Health Centre.

Besides the inconvenience to patients, they say the disruptions are evidence that the centre is understaffed and nurses are being overworked.

Leading the charge are the nurses themselves, several of whom spoke to Davidson town council back in August.

They alleged that the centre’s current staffing levels are potentially unsafe, asking for the town’s support as they pushed for a more balanced workload.

In response, Heartland Health Region’s acting CEO, Gayle Riendeau, said staffing levels at Davidson are in line with provincial guidelines. She said the region would keep working to fill vacancies and to address the nurses’ concerns.

A Craik man, who asked that his name be withheld, recently wrote a report on his own experience, submitting it to three health regions, two cabinet ministers and local politicians.

He said he was admitted to Davidson’s emergency room in early August after experiencing a gallbladder attack, and spent the next two weeks travelling back and forth between various hospitals for observation, treatment and surgery.

The patient spent part of that time at Davidson Health Centre, but his stays were interrupted by three service disruptions over a 10-day span. In each case, no RN was available to work the day shift.

For the full story, please see the Sept. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A shortage of dance teachers is having a ripple effect for the Davidson Dance Club this year.

With only one adult instructor on board, chairperson Kelly Allan said, the club has had to limit the number of classes it can offer. In turn, enrolment has dropped by almost 20 per cent this fall.

“That has impacted our numbers, for sure,” said Allan.

The club had five adult teachers last year, but only one, Irene Williams, is returning this year.

Student teachers are making up some of the difference, including Tia Shaw in Grade 12, and Sarah Allan and Emily Read, both in Grade 11.

Some younger students are also coming on board as teacher-helpers, including Avery Ebenal and Hannah Gust, both in Grade 9.

Classes began on Sept. 12 and Allan said adjustments may be made as the season continues.

For now they’re “working out the kinks” with Williams, she said, adding, “We let her feel out the classes and see where she could use some extra support.”

The lyrical class will be the only senior class offered in Davidson this year.

For the full story, please see the Sept. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.