As many of you know, I recently hosted a public meeting at the Sundre Legion concerning the Alberta Health Services decision to close 15 long-term care beds at the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre.
My purpose in organizing this meeting was not to beat up on AHS or the current government, but to get all the facts on the table as expeditiously as possible. I believe that in times of crisis, leaders have a responsibility to bring people together and set a tone that allows progress to be made.
In this case, it has become clear to me that the community of Sundre is right to demand better. As an elected official, my first responsibility is to represent the interests of our constituency. To this end, I have written a letter to the minister of health, asking her to fulfill her duty as well, and personally intervene.
The case for overruling the decision by AHS is clear.
First, the people of Sundre were never included in the decision-making process. The announcement came with no warning, and no meaningful public consultation. Even the AHS official who attended my public meeting admitted as much, telling concerned community members, "First and foremost, what we've probably done is a very poor job of communicating with folks."
Secondly, AHS has presented no data publicly to justify the decision. No study, no statistics and no business plan have been provided. The lack of transparency is astounding, especially considering this community's longstanding and dedicated efforts to support medical services.
Thirdly, the public outcry has been substantial. Following the meeting, which drew hundreds of locals, the issue lit up social media like wildfire. My office is receiving a wave of calls and emails, from both local constituents and rural folks across Alberta who are sick and tired of AHS treating their communities like an afterthought.
Make no mistake ó the situation in Sundre is not an isolated incident. We have seen AHS completely disregard local community concerns time and time again across our province.
Since centralization of health care began, AHS administrators have been growing increasingly unaccountable, while practising a policy of active disengagement with the public. The former government, seeking to evade political responsibility for difficult decisions, proved only too happy to ignore the obvious sickness within AHS. A culture of entitlement was allowed to take hold, compete with massive pay and perks for senior officials. These same bean-counters no longer even pretend to concern themselves with public consultation.
As my friend Myron Thompson pointed out at the public meeting, "And now all that direction has to come from the mighty towers above. We can't make local decisions anymore? In a pig's eye! That needs to change."
It's time for the minister of health to remind AHS administrators that health care is a service industry. Overruling the closure of long-term care beds in Sundre, and requiring AHS to consult with communities prior to any future closures, would be a great place to start. If you agree with me, be sure to sign my petition, which will be available at my office and throughout the community. It is also online at: http://www.jasonjnixon.ca/sundre_hospital
Our rural communities are right to demand better from AHS. So should the minister of health.
Jason Nixon
Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA
