EDMONTON – ‘Mike’, an Edmonton area EMT featured in Global News’ Code Red series, writes another blog in response to the province’s move to set up eight to 10 new health districts to deliver care.
“Would you like some more bureaucracy with that?
“It’s been some time since you’ve heard from me, but like a boiling kettle, I’m ready to whistle.
“After seven years of band-aid solutions, half-hearted apologies, gag orders on physicians or front-line staff, and before that the ridiculous severance packages for former health region officials; low and behold AHS has come up with a “NEW” solution to the plight that is health care in Alberta: They want to re-institute health regions… I’ll let that sink in for a moment.
READ MORE: Seven years after centralizing health care, Alberta decentralizes system
“Now let’s not get confused with the health regions of old who answered to the health minister’s department directly, oh no no no. They will still answer to a fully-intact AHS superboard above them, who will still control the money, the power, the inordinate support staff with wages associated, then answer to the health ministry. I reiterate my headline: Would you like some more bureaucracy with that?
“Premier Prentice won’t apologize for the actions of his predecessors as he “wasn’t premier at the time” but he is compounding a terribly thought system implemented by them with more bureaucracy of his own. AHS is already more top heavy than most European healthcare systems that offer more efficient care, to a higher level of standard and larger population, while incurring less administrative overhead, councils, committees or gratuitous salaries for their executives. This is like doing a bad drywall job but think if you spread enough Spackle on it eventually people won’t notice its flaws.
“I’m sorry Mr. Premier, we’ve noticed and we’ve told the government repeatedly to “go back and do it right” although those requests have apparently fallen on deaf ears.
“The Alberta government has said they have listened to the population through their survey but obviously they haven’t or maybe the surveys are geared like the satisfaction surveys handed out by AHS in the past where every answer leads them to assume “job well done.”
“Health Minister Mandel says that the rules are going to change to get rural ambulances out of the cities and back to their communities ASAP. How is that going to happen when there is anywhere between a two and eight-hour wait in the emerge just to hand over care for our patients? Where are all the promises that have come before? Where are the additional acute care beds and the staff to facilitate them? You promise more acute beds and staff with one hand while quietly closing down beds dedicated to mental health patients.
“Cutting a foot off the bottom of a blanket then sewing the piece onto the top does not make a longer blanket Mr. Mandel. You used to be a proponent for change in the Edmonton region concerning health care, facilities, also EMS when you were mayor, so what has changed since gaining office? Where are the non-emergent transfer service upgrades, the additional staff and ambulances for the major centres, as not to draw from outlying areas, and these beds that have been promised to help expedite people through the health care system? We’ve seen lots of promises and no actual solutions. Do you have something more pressing on your plate beside the healthcare needs of Albertans as you were appointed? An election perhaps?
“Clearly the government is not listening as they are making the same blunders over and over again with the only ones benefiting from it being the high level management and CEOs of course. The people who should benefit from healthcare reform – me, you, our families and every other Albertan – seems to repeatedly take second seat to yet another “not so new idea” implemented by this proven, astoundingly flawed, system and government.
“Adding yet another level of management between the front line and the people behind the reigns of the system will be just another impediment to actual and meaningful change.
“We as the people need to stand up and say enough is enough. Write your MLA, write your MP, write the health minister directly and the premier. They say they have listened but clearly have not. Time is well past that they listen then implement beneficial change to our damaged healthcare system and quit scapegoating the price of oil to prevent actually investment in an essential service. If they won’t, well the only way we’ll see change is for you…. yes you! For goodness sake people if there is an election get out and VOTE!!!!
“Don’t even get me started on education as my sister is one utterly frustrated teacher.
Signed yet again,
One utterly frustrated EMT.”
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