Saskatoon City Hospital adds 40 new beds to ease pressure on acute care
The first 40 of 109 new acute care beds at Saskatoon City Hospital are now open, marking a key step in expanding hospital capacity in the province’s largest city.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said the addition will help patients while supporting hospital staff. “By expanding acute care capacity at City Hospital, we are delivering solutions that put patients first,” he said. “This expansion will help ease pressure across Saskatoon’s acute care network and enhance the experience for patients and families.”
Once the full expansion is complete, the hospital will increase Saskatoon’s overall capacity by 14 per cent. The project includes 22 acute rehabilitation beds, 12 acquired brain injury beds, 60 general medicine beds, 15 high-acuity beds, and expanded services in medical imaging, laboratory and pharmacy.
Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Andrew Will said the new beds will reduce pressure on emergency departments and improve access to hospital care for patients across the province.
To make room for the new acute care units, some outpatient and continuing care services at City Hospital will move to other community or continuing care locations. Dr. Mark Fenton, deputy chief medical officer for Integrated Saskatoon Health, said the changes will improve the patient experience and support recovery in more suitable care settings.
The SHA plans to hire more than 500 additional staff and physicians to support the expanded units. The project is part of the province’s broader strategy to optimize hospital space and expand access to critical health services.
The provincial government has committed $30 million in the 2025–26 budget for the Saskatoon hospital expansion, building on a previous $30 million investment from 2024–25. The SHA has also opened 159 continuing care beds and hired 385 full-time staff in Saskatoon as part of its Capacity Pressure Action Plan.
Together, the initiatives aim to provide more beds, more staff, and improved access to timely, high-quality care for Saskatchewan patients.