WHEREAS health care is important to all citizens of the Province of Saskatchewan, regardless of if it is provided in tertiary, regional, or community-based hospitals;

WHEREAS the recruitment and retention of health care professionals is difficult and has a dramatic effect on the ability of communities to provide acute health care services in towns and smaller cities in the province;

WHEREAS communities at times are strongly encouraged to allow the health region to be solely responsible for these tasks;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to improve the communication processes between the Saskatchewan Health Authority and local communities regarding all health services in the community;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the provincial government allow local communities to jointly participate with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in a proactive approach of recruitment and retention of health care staff to ensure all acute care services are maintained within the community;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that those communities that engage in these actions across the province should be active participants in maintaining the services in their communities.