OLDS — Town council has voted to continue advocating for more health professionals in the community – including doctors.
Council made that decision during its July 4 policies and priorities meeting after receiving a package of information on the matter from Alberta Health Services (AHS) central region representatives.
Specifically, council voted to “continue the conversation and advocacy” with AHS representatives, as per a motion from Coun. Wanda Blatz.
Also as per that motion, council voted to accept a six-page summary of questions and answers given during a presentation by AHS central region representatives to council during a policies and priorities meeting last month.
In regard to the summary, Coun. Heather Ryan questioned the way AHS determines the number of doctors needed in Olds.
In essence, council was told that Olds has enough doctors for the population of the townsite and surrounding area, which AHS has estimated to be 13,000.
The AHS representatives said that results in a doctor/population ratio in Olds and area of 1/700, which they said is far better than some other similar communities.
For example, they said the number of patients per doctor in Innisfail and Three Hills is twice the Olds figure.
Ryan said if one considers the entire area people come from to access doctors and other services in Olds, the population is more like 40,000.
“It's not necessarily the trading area that they have to take a look at, it’s the actual pattern of where people are coming from to see doctors in Olds,” she said.
If that was done, Ryan said, “the 1/700 ratio would be a lot higher. And I think that that would make a difference as to attracting more doctors in the future.”
Coun. Darren Wilson repeated a question he asked during the June 6 meeting: whether the Town of Olds should look at forming a committee to recruit and retain health professionals in general, including doctors.
Chief administrative officer Brent Williams said he didn’t think he had enough information to provide “a worthwhile answer at this point.
“But I know just personally as a new member unable to access a physician, a family physician, the conversation, I think this is probably the start of it, if nothing else.
“If there’s opportunities for the town to work with AHS to improve our physician-to-resident ratio for the town and our catchment area, then it’s something I’m certainly willing to take direction from council on.”
Blatz agreed that “conversation” has to continue.
“I think that we need to continue advocacy to whatever level we need to take it, because over and over and over again, I’m hearing recurring comments that people are unable to find a family physician,” Blatz said.
“And it is important. And although we do have community physicians, people do like to have that connection with their own doctor.
“So I believe that we need to continue this conversation at whatever level and advocacy that we need to take it to.”
Mayor Judy Dahl said she was quite happy with the summary and said she learned a lot from it.
A suggestion was made to post the AHS information, provided by AHS chief zone officer Janice Stewart on the Town of Olds' website. And in fact, a link is on the municipality's website.
Along with the link is a statement that says, “While the Town of Olds appreciates AHS’ efforts in meeting with us and discussing at length our concerns, health care access in our town remains limited and requires improvement.
“From a lack of family doctors to our undersized hospital, town council recognizes our shortcomings and will continue its advocacy to the provincial government to increase services and better serve town residents and residents of our region who use Olds as their medical centre.”
