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Reader expresses concerns over future of health care in Rimbey

Changes cause concerns
20831003_web1_LetterEditor-copy

Dear Editor,

Thank you to Dr. Hackett for taking time to explain the current threat to Health Care in Rimbey and the possible repercussions to medical services here.

Actually, it’s probably a miracle that we have achieved such a good result over the years in our small town. During the last round of govrnment cuts in the 1990’s, the plan was to reduce the size of the Rimbey Hospital from 26 beds to 10 beds.This was clearly on the road to closure.

In fact, the next thing that happened was the closure of both the Eckville and Bentley hospitals, the two nearest small hospitals.

The Rimbey community saw the danger and responded. A large legal petition was organized and eight hundred people attended a protest meeting at the Rimbey Community Centre.

After that the government plan was defeated and then Rimbey got both a new hospital and and new medical clinic.

For a long time we did well, having had the services for twenty or more years of several dedicated physicians who had enough faith to invest in our town, both professionally and personally.

After they retired, Rimbey had quite a struggle to find new doctors.

So it really was seen as progress when Dr. Hackett and his colleagues chose to practice here and there were a lot of happy relieved patients.

But what is the future now?

It is ultimately discouraging to see the aggressive behaviour of the current government toward the doctors who take care of us which is really overkill and not a stretch to say that it is careless and dangerous.

Elaine Moore

Rimbey