By rdnewsNOW staff

"ongoing potential for turmoil is untenable"

Rimbey doctors latest to write health minister with concerns

May 8, 2020 | 5:06 PM

Six doctors in Rimbey have written Health Minister Tyler Shandro to say that the crisis in rural healthcare in the province would continue until the government returns to the table and reaches a binding agreement with the Alberta Medical Association.

“Due to the lack of stability for physicians without a formal agreement, we still stand to lose several local physicians,” the doctors wrote. “The ongoing potential for turmoil is untenable for all Albertans, including physicians. Our ask for stability in the form of a negotiated or arbitrated agreement between the government and the AMA has not changed. Until this happens, rural healthcare in Alberta remains immediately threatened.”

Doctors in Stettler, Sundre, Rocky Mountain House, Canmore, Three Hills, Bragg Creek, Drayton Valley, Cold Lake and Lacombe have announced plans to leave their local hospital, close their practice, or leave Alberta altogether since the province ended their argeement.

The AMA has also launched a $250-million lawsuit against the provincial government.

“Doctors have been completely clear that this is primarily an issue of trust,” said David Shepherd, NDP Opposition Critic for Health. “They can’t trust someone like Tyler Shandro, who behaves so erratically and fails to learn from his mistakes or even accept responsibility for them. Why would anyone agree to operate a small business in that kind of environment?

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“Solving the rural healthcare crisis starts with removing Tyler Shandro as minister of health,” Shepherd said.

(With file from NDP media release)