Saskatoon man undergoes invasive medical procedures in hospital hallway due to overcapacity

Sask. NDP demands health minister apologize to patient's family

Laura Sciarpelletti · CBC News · Posted: Oct 10, 2025 7:23 PM EDT

Kay Roberts spent four nights in a hallway of Royal University Hospital due to over-capacity issues. (Submitted by Saskatchewan NDP)

A 36-year-old man spent days in a Royal University Hospital hallway this summer, undergoing treatment for swelling of his brain, because there was no room for him to be in.

"It's scary. It's the scariest medical experience I've had, hands down," Kay Roberts said.

Roberts had been experiencing confusion and headaches and grew increasingly disorientated, leading him to seek medical attention at the Saskatoon ER the morning of Aug. 4.

Roberts never imagined that he would receive invasive medical treatment in a busy hallway. He ended up spending four nights and five days on a stretch bed while experiencing confusion and other cognitive issues due to his condition.

"I really only have memories from one of those days. The lights were on all the time, very difficult to sleep, people walking by all the time ," Roberts said.

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