Following a meeting last month with the Sundre Health Professionals Attraction Committee (HPAC), Sundre Mayor Annette Clews has sent a letter on behalf of council to Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne.
The two-page letter, which came before council at last week's regularly scheduled council meeting, calls on the province to move forward with a new hospital for Sundre.
Sundre's current hospital was opened in 1968. It has 13 beds and 15 long-term care beds, as well as an attached family medical practice.
“We are currently using a facility that has been very quickly outgrown and is out-dated,” Clews said in the letter. “Our facility rarely runs below 85 per cent capacity and most often runs at 100 per cent plus capacity.”
The hospital emergency room sees about 850 patients a month, increasing to more than 1,100 during summer months, she noted.
“Although our hospital has received upgrades over the years, we are in obvious need of a facility to accommodate our continually increasing population and the accompanying medical procedures that supplement this growth,” she said.
“A new hospital facility will greatly assist in the continuous health and wellness of our diverse population. The Town of Sundre would like to work with the provincial health board and other government departments to improve our health care delivery.”
In her letter, which was copied to Sundre Wildrose MP Joe Anglin and others, Clews also noted that Sundre was originally scheduled to receive a new hospital starting in 2006, but those plans have not moved forward following the creation of the provincial health superboard.
“Upon researching the provincial government capital budget 2012 investing in people (document) and further research on the Alberta Health website, I see there is no reference to the replacement of our rural hospital,” she said.
A delegation from the Sundre Health Professionals Attraction Committee made a presentation to council on August 13, outlining issues such as need for a new Sundre hospital and new clinic building in town.
Formed in September 2011, the HPAC is comprised of Sundre physicians, chamber of commerce officials and others.
“There is no question in our minds that we need a new hospital. It's been looked at several times over the last several years,” committee member and Sundre physician Dr. Hal Irvine told council.
“We underwent a process just before Alberta Health Services was reorganized and we were online at that time to get a new hospital and then when there was the reorganization and the David Thompson Region collapsing, of course all of that got shelved.
“We've been told by Alberta Health Services that Sundre is a priority for looking at a new hospital again when funding is available. And we are not holding our breath to wait for that.”
Dr. Irvine said town council could play a role in bringing a new hospital to town by bringing the matter up with those in power, including the health minister.
“In terms of lobbying for a new hospital, those efforts are ongoing, but it's not something I think the town has direct influence in other than continuing to lobby our provincial representatives and Alberta Health Services,” he said.
The committee has asked the Town of Sundre and Mountain View County to share the cost of a grant of $18,000 for every new physician brought to town.
Town council has forwarded that request to budget deliberations.
NEW CAO ON THE JOB
Councillors passed a motion appointing Dean Pickering as the town's new chief administrative officer.
He fills the position left vacant with the death of CAP Vern Balding, who died in a motorcycle crash on June 29.
Pickering, 45, is the former CAO of the Town of Smoky Lake. He has a wealth of experience in business planning, community planning and marketing, he said in an interview. “If the town is growing and there are lots of businesses you don't have to raise taxes,” he said, noting he is looking forward to working with town council and the local business community.
MOUNTAIN VIEW SENIORS' HOUSING MAKES PRESENTATION
A delegation from the Mountain View Seniors' Housing board made a presentation to councillors, outlining the organization's recently adopted strategic plan framework.
Mountain View Seniors' Housing is a non-profit organization, and a registered charity, which operates seniors' lodges, seniors' self-contained apartments and subsidized family housing in Carstairs, Sundre, Olds and Didsbury.
MVSH CAO Sam Smalldon explained that the strategic plan has four principal goals:
• Building governance and funding model addressing short- and long-term financial needs in alignment with federal and provincial priorities. That includes developing a four-year business plan, communicating strategy with all levels of government, and strengthening housing foundation relationships.
• Being recognized as a leader in innovative delivery of supportive and independent living. That includes developing government and industry partnerships, and developing broader community, care and housing program options.
• Being recognized as an organization with dedicated, loyal and qualified staff. That includes providing educational opportunities for staff and ensuring health and welfare of staff.
• Providing facilities with a quality environment meeting the needs of clients and staff. That includes developing a long-term building program.
Smalldon says the MVSH board five-year business planning assumptions adopted in July include maintaining requisitions until 2016 and reducing thereafter by 2018.
TOWN EXPANDS SPOG PARTNERSHIP
The Town of Sundre has expanded its partnership with the Sundre Petroleum Operator's Group (SPOG)'s annual Neighbour's Day open house event.
Councillors passed a motion that reads: “The Town of Sundre will commit to provide the Sundre arena as the hosting venue at no cost to SPOG, (and) provide tables and chairs from the Sundre Community Centre at no cost.”
In a note to council, administration said that SPOG officials “hope that by making this event a more community oriented event they will be better able to showcase more local business and services that are available in our community. They seek to obtain a partnership with the Town of Sundre so that they can be assured of a secure venue with amenities for its continued success.”
The cost of renting the arena and the tables and chairs would typically be $550 per day, council heard.
Town councillors have already volunteered at past Neighbour's Day events, and some will be continuing to do so in 2012, council heard.
COUNCIL MEETING TIMES CHANGED
Councillors passed a motion changing the regularly-scheduled meeting times for council and governance meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“Previously, council was meeting with the CAO from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. prior to the regular scheduled council and governance meetings. It was found that this did often not provide enough time to complete discussions prior to the beginning of the meetings' advertised start time,” administration said in a note to council.
Under the change councillors will now meet with the CAO following the close of the council and governance meetings.
LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
Council has provided Valley Kids Out of School Care and the Sundre Daycare Centre with letters of support.
The letters were requested as part of the grant application process for the facilities.
“We are very fortunate to have this level of child care in the Town of Sundre,” said Mayor Annette Clews.
