Review of workplace culture at Regina hospitals complete, after allegations of ‘racism’ and ‘discriminatory leadership’

WATCH: Fourteen recommendations to improve workplace culture at Sask. hospitals have been made following a review. Sierra D'Souza Butts explains.

An external review of the workplace culture at Regina-area hospitals is now complete. The review followed allegations of racism, misconduct, and a lack of professionalism at Regina’s General Hospital (RGH).

The province says the review was conducted by “two highly respected medical leaders” from Ontario and Nova Scotia and includes 14 recommendations for the Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) and the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine.

“Regina physicians have expressed to us a feeling of disengagement at times with the [SHA]. That’s why I think it’s critical for us to engage the physicians early and continue to engage them often, to help them to work through this report and implementing these recommendations,” shared SMA President Dr. Pamela Arnold.

To make the improvements the province says the SHA and SMA will be holding engagement sessions with Regina hospital physicians before finalizing an action plan.

Complaints over the work environment at RGH first came to light in November 2023 – when several doctors, who received their education and training in Africa and Asia, filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission – claiming white physicians were being given preferential treatment.

• ‘The most toxic place’: Foreign-trained doctors file human rights complaint, alleging discrimination

On Monday afternoon, SHA told the media the third party review presents an opportunity for health officials to “move forward to a positive future” with its community of doctors through collaboration.

“The [SHA] values diversity. We would strongly believe that that is one of the strengths of our health system. We’re very committed to ensuring that we have an environment that is safe for all that work here,” said SHA’s chief executive officer Andrew Will.

“Our goal is to have a workforce, including our physician team, that’s representative of the populations that that we serve. I will also say we have a zero tolerance for racism, for discrimination … I think it’s just important to emphasize that when we do have concerns of racism that come forward, we do investigate those through robust, independent processes to ensure that that we address, any concerns that are legitimate."

The province says it is also taking immediate actions to address some of the 14 recommendations from the review.

That includes restructuring the SHA’s Senior Physician Leadership structure that was announced on June 12, working collaboratively with the SMA to finalize practitioner staff bylaws and launching the SHA’s anti-racism strategy.

“One of the things that have been identified in the last year or two is that we needed to start engaging on the ground, helping to inform us make our decisions on how we’re going to move forward,” said interim chief medical officer Dr. Jordan Wingate, referring to SHA’s physician leadership structure.

• Sask. health minister says alleged racism at Regina hospital under third party review

Based on the report’s findings, Wingate said the SHA is committed to making changes for its community of doctors, as well to strengthen the province’s goal for recruitment and retention.

“Obviously this report would’ve been great if it was a glowing report, but it was not and we have to accept that. We have to own that, but more importantly we have to decide how we’re going to go forward collaboratively with our physicians, with [the SMA] and the SHA,” he expressed.

“To me, it’s about what we do from here on out that’s going to identify Saskatchewan as a destination.”

In the report’s announcement, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said he has faith that the review’s recommendations will benefit both doctors and patients.

• Province reviewing work environment in Regina hospitals following alleged misconduct

The province says longer-term implementation of actions to address the 14 recommendations will be rolled out over the next six to 12 months.

The full review can be read here.

-With files from David Prisciak and Wayne Mantyka