Alberta Health Services releases $12-billion budget

CALGARY – Alberta Health Services has approved an almost $12-billion budget that will be used to target key areas like emergency room wait times, access to surgical procedures as well as expanding continuing care services.

The province says the budget caters to the issues Albertans have voiced the most concern about.

“This is what Albertans tell us they want from their health system,” said Ken Hughes, Chair of the AHS board.

“Faster and more equitable access to a range of services and programs.”

Budget breakdown:

“¢ $19-million towards emergency department wait time reductions, which has still not met targets set for last March.

“¢ $15-million to reduce the average of 6-week wait times for patients waiting for radiation therapy

“¢ $46-million to reduce wait times for cardiac, cataract, cancer surgeries as well as hip and knee replacement surgeries.

“¢ $110-million to increase the number of continuing care beds

“¢ Approximately $84-million to recruit and train staff for the South Calgary Hospital in anticipation of it’s 2012 opening

“¢ Approximately $11-million for obesity and chronic disease initiatives

“¢ Approximately $9-million for colorectal cancer reduction initiatives

“¢ $5-million or more towards workforce planning and improvement

“¢ Approximately $37-million for home care services

“¢ Approximately $200-million for infrastructure upgrades

The budget also includes a first-available surgeon program that will allow Albertans to travel wherever surgery space becomes available and a flagging system for patients approaching the upper limits of wait periods.

The budget includes $9.6-billion in funding from the province as well as money from restricted grants and other health and wellness contributions.

AHS also released its fourth quarter performance report at a board meeting at the Carewest Colonel Belcher Care Centre in Calgary on Friday.

The report looks at progress made with health initiatives between January and March 2011.

While improvements have been made, the report suggests AHS is still falling short of many of its targets.

Ken Hughes also addressed the accusations around que-jumping which was brought to light by former CEO Stephen Duckett during a speech at the University of Toronto last month.

Hughes says the board discussed the issue a few years ago but denies that cue jumping was ever commonly

practiced.

“It wasn’t a big topic of discussion because it wasn’t seen as a frequent concern for a big concern but what we wanted to do was put a stake in the sand about our principles, our operation principles.”

Absent from Fridays meeting was new board member Shelah Weatherill, who was the CEO of Capital Health during the time Duckett alleged the que-jumping occurred.