Southern Health Sante Sud has been asked by the provincial government to find $11-million in cost savings in 2017-18.

Recent reports indicate the province sent out mandate letters to Regional Health Authorities in December 2016. The letters outlined targeted cuts for RHAs to meet to ensure no deficits were posted in the next fiscal year.

“We've received the letter and our people have been hard at work identifying and analyzing the measures required to meet provincial targets,” says Southern Health board chair Abe Bergen. “(As well as) the implications that has on services to patients, clients, personnel, agreements and communities.”

Southern Health Sante Sud board chair Abe Bergen. (file photo)

Bergen says the Southern Health board of directors discussed the cost savings target at its recent meeting. The consensus was to allow the RHA's finance department to do its job first, and then make decisions on the information provided. It's still too early to tell what impact the looming cuts will have on health care services in the region.

“We want to do our due diligence and make sure we work through it really thoroughly,” Bergen explains. “That's the stage we're at right now. Cuts like this ... we want to take seriously. It just requires a lot of hard work on our part.”

According to its website, Southern Health Sante Sud serves 20 rural municipalities, seven municipalities, four cities, four towns and one village. It also provides service to seven First Nation communities, several Metis communities and Hutterite colones. Southern Health's region of coverage is made up of more than 194,000 people.