By Sarah Mills

Auditor’s report raises concerns about health equipment, foster care

Dec 1, 2010 | 4:06 PM

Saskatchewan's provincial auditor's latest report makes for some alarming reading, especially in the area of the ministries of Health and Social Services that show patient and child care is potentially at risk.

The auditor looked at Kelsey Trail Health Region in east-central Saskatchewan and found that equipment was not being properly maintained. In one case a ventilator hadn't been tested since 1998.

It is information acting Provincial Auditor Brian Atkinson thinks patients should know about.

“If I were a patient, I would like to know that the equipment they are using to treat or diagnose me, has in fact, been maintained to the manufacturer's standards.”

Once again, the red flag is being raised about Social Services, not knowing how many children were in its care or where they are cared for.

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“Even if they do know where some of these children are, they don't have adequate contact with them,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson reports the government is not collecting money owed to it from people leasing land. He cites commercial leases, like those for golf courses which were several years in a arrears, to the tune of $1 million.