Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to an oral question asked by Ms. Marie-Jewell on September 10. Mr. Speaker, on September 10, 1992, the honourable Member from Thebacha sought confirmation on the number of Saskatchewan doctors involved in the review of medical services, at the Fort Smith Health Centre.
With a knowledge of the size of the facility, and the services provided, no surgery or anaesthesia, and only low-risk obstetrics, the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons drew upon its extensive experience in conducting such reviews, and selected two physicians to complete the review.
No written change was made to the terms of reference to state that two physicians, rather than four or five, would conduct a review. This decision to reduce the team to two members was made in advance, solely by the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons, and communicated to the health centre more than three weeks before the review. No objection was made by the administration board, or medical staff.
The number of physician hours the Saskatchewan college used to perform the review is consistent with the estimate of the number of physician hours quoted to the health centre by the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons. In the view of the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons to have had four or five physicians perform the review would have been unnecessary and very costly to the health centre.
The Executive Director of the Fort Smith Health Centre acted on the motion of the board of management of the Fort Smith Health Centre to have the view conducted by the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons. While it was not explicitly stated in the minutes of the meeting it was implied that the Executive Director should initiate the drafting of the terms of reference.
The medical staff and the board's legal counsel had an opportunity to review the terms of reference before they were provided to the Saskatchewan college as final. Each member of the board was given a copy of the final terms of reference. Thank you.