Saskatchewan family billed $1,300 for ambulance ride, calls out lack of beds

BIGGAR – Amy Haynes is staring down a $1,300 ambulance bill for her son, but she says she shouldn’t have to pay the entire cost.

Haynes’ three-year-old, Nolan, came down with a fever of over 40 C on May 25 and required immediate medical attention.

The doctor in their hometown of Biggar, Sask., had recommended Nolan seek treatment in a larger centre that is more capable of handling children’s cases.

“They were very concerned that the fever was going to lead to seizures and everything else they weren’t equipped to handle,” Haynes recalled at an Opposition NDP news conference Wednesday.

To find a bed, the doctor phoned hospitals in Saskatoon, North Battleford and Swift Current — but nothing was available.

Finally, they found one in Prince Albert.

Nolan was transported to the city northeast of Saskatoon the next afternoon.

His father, Dylan, rode with him in the ambulance while Amy followed behind in her vehicle. They drove past Saskatoon to get there.

“It is what it is,” Amy said in a later interview. “I just want to see things improve.”

The family left Prince Albert two days later once Nolan got better, she said. She doesn’t know what caused the fever but doctors had suspected pneumonia.

On July 3, she got the bill for the pricey ride and hasn’t yet paid.

She said she’s reached out to the Saskatchewan Health Authority to see if they can change the invoice to reflect the circumstances. She would pay the bill if it only charged her for a ride to Saskatoon — not Prince Albert — because Saskatoon is the closest option.

A bill for Saskatoon would be cheaper.

“I have tried multiple times and haven’t actually heard back,” Amy said.

In a statement, the province’s Health Ministry said it can’t comment on specific cases.

But it said it’s working to ensure all residents can get care as close to home as possible.

“We understand the impact capacity pressures have on patients, staff and health care providers, particularly in specialized areas such as pediatrics,” the ministry said. “That is why we are continuing to work with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and other health partners on improving hospital capacity.”

Ambulance services aren’t an insured benefit under the Canada Health Act, it added.

Some residents in Saskatchewan have to go to Calgary to receive mammograms. In some of those cases, the province reimburses up to $1,500 for travel and accommodation expenses.

Opposition NDP associate health critic Keith Jorgenson told reporters Wednesday the province should cover the Haynes’ additional travel costs.

“These large bills are common and is something that is affecting people disproportionately in the rural parts of the province because of the distances between health-care facilities,” he said.

“My suggestion is that they listen to the people who elected them and provide them with the health care where and when they need it.”

It’s not the first time the Haynes have travelled far for care.

They had to go south to Swift Current for their other son in December because of no available beds nearby, Amy said.

“I think we need to listen to our doctors and nurses, our care aides, all of our other health care professionals,” she said. “They’re the ones that work in it every day. They see what needs to be fixed.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2026.

— By Jeremy Simes in Regina