By Samantha Maciag

Provincial auditor’s report makes recommendations to ensure public safety

Jun 2, 2011 | 1:52 PM

The Provincial Auditor’s report, which came out on Thursday, shows some concerning news.

There are some major issues with accountability in the Prairie North Regional Health Authority in northwest Saskatchewan, where doctors were being granted medical privileges without due process.

In the report released Thursday morning, Provincial Auditor Bonnie Lysyk notes that the health authority didn't obtain all documents required – like current medical licences and criminal record checks – before granting medical privileges to doctors.

No one has been harmed but Lysyk did name seven recommendations to ensure public safety in the future.

According to its website, the region's population is over 74,454 and also serves a significant population on the Alberta side of Lloydminster and the surrounding area.

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Also noted in the auditor's report was improvements needed in the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing.

The report focused on the ministry's rehabilitation processes for adult offenders in the Regina Qu'Appelle region and found that policies weren't consistently followed for risk assessments and management plans between high-risk adult offenders and probation officers.

A connection is drawn between that and the ministry's 2009-10 report where it was revealed that 47 per cent of sentenced offenders were re-admitted to correctional programs within two years. That number has been consistent since 2001-02.

But it isn't all bad news, Lysyk offered a “pat on the back” to school divisions who have greatly improved their financial reporting measures.

The report covers 137 government agencies that have Aug. 31 to Dec. 31 as year ends. Volume 2 will be published later this year with agencies that have March 31 year ends.

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