Premier Scott Moe and Health Minister Paul Merriman are both saying thanks, but no thanks to a request being made by provincial NDP leader Ryan Meili.

During Question Period, Meili made the invite which he said comes from doctors in the ICU because healthcare workers feel their requests are not being heard so Moe needs to see the stress they are under first-hand.

Speaking to reporters after Question Period, Moe said it would not be the right thing to do.

“I think it would be highly inappropriate for myself or any other politician to be visiting a health care centre,” Moe said. “Over the course of the last year we have had protocols in place that have prevented many family members from visiting their loved ones in health care centres. This is no time for politicians to be visiting those centres.”

Moe added he is very confident in the work that not only Merriman is doing, but the work being done by the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the province’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab.

On Monday, the province said there were 31 people in intensive care at Regina hospitals.  On Friday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said that because of increasing hospitalizations, they were being forced to double up intensive care rooms to expand capacity.