Staff
According to documents obtained by an Alberta-based health advocacy organization, Rimbey’s new hospital will be downgraded to an “urgent care centre” while the long-term care centres in both Bentley and Breton will be closed.
According to Friends of Medicare, a document from the former David Thompson Health Region indicates a detailed plan to close or convert facilities in many smaller communities in the region was issued last month.
The statement claims hospitals in Rimbey, Ponoka, Lacombe, Innisfail, Castor, Coronation, Consort, Sundre, Three Hills, and Hanna would be downgraded.
"People in these communities have been asking about the plans for their health facilities for months. The government owes these affected areas a clear explanation as to what is happening," said Ken Collier, chair of the Friends of Medicare Board and a resident of Red Deer.
Rob Stevenson, a senior public affairs officer with Alberta Health Service quickly refuted the press release claiming the statement was from the old health region and was made several months ago, despite the fact that the document was dated April 16, 2009.
“The document that was presented by the Friends of Medicare is an old version of a 25 year capital plan that was put together by the David Thompson Health Region several months ago. It is not an approved capital plan. It is not endorsed by Alberta Health Services, I cannot stress that enough,” said Stevenson who quickly jumped to the defensive when pressed for an explanation on how the details ended up on his department’s letterhead.
“This is getting a little more confrontational than I would like so if we could just move it back a bit – these are notes, these are notes that somebody wrote down in minutes from a meeting. This is not an official document whatsoever,” he said. “I could get a copy of Rimbey Review letterhead and send out letters too. I understand where you’re coming from but this is not an official capital plan. Anyone who says it is, is completely false.”
According to the Provincial Service Optimization review commissioned by Alberta Health and Wellness however, merging of services in rural areas would be pursued however there has been little information as to how these mergers might take place.
"Certainly, there must be similar plans in place for other regions in the province. Albertans want to see the plan for the health facility that serves their community," said David Eggen, executive director for Friends of Medicare. "No one wants to wake up one day this summer and find out their hospital is scheduled for closure."
According to the source, Friends of Medicare has also learned that Alberta Health Services will be announcing significant budget cuts this July.
When asked to reassure readers that their concerns over the suggested cuts are not immanent, Stevenson reiterated the government’s position on the issue, however it wasn’t very reassuring.
“To discuss impending or potential facility changes or repurposing at any facility in any of the communities you just named or anywhere across the province is premature at best,” he said. “For you and the readers, Alberta Health Services will not be taking any such actions as indicated in this plan in any rural community without first consulting all of the stakeholders including the rural community. If there’s going to be changes to anything in Rimbey, people in Rimbey will know about it before the changes are made.”
At a cost of $20 million, the new Rimbey Hospital was officially opened last fall.