NDP talks health crisis in front of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

AHS confirmed on Monday in a statement that seven patients were temporarily transferred out of the hospital over the weekend out of the roughly 250 weekly surgeries completed at Red Deer’s hospital. They said staffing shortages supporting specifically the General Surgery program were the cause. Transfers did not include scheduled operations or emergency procedures.

Shepherd then pointed to the 14 ambulances that were backlogged in the parking lot on April 25, waiting to access the emergency department. Some patients were being seen in the waiting rooms as a result.

Shepherd listed communities across the province that have bed reductions due to staffing shortages such as Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House, and Drumheller.

Finally, he pointed to the longstanding contractual debate from 2020 between the UCP and doctors. Bill 21 introduced in 2019 gave the government the ability to end their master agreement. In 2020 after contract negotiations were not settled, the government imposed changes affecting pay structures and other areas.

READ: Alberta ends master agreement with doctors, announces new pay structure

“It’s an incredibly competitive field out there for healthcare workers right now and the reputation this government has created for healthcare workers in the province of Alberta is making it very, very difficult for us to recruit,” said Shepherd.

rdnewsNOW asked Shepherd what the NDP would do if in charge.

Acknowledging there is no immediate solution, Shepherd responded that, firstly, current healthcare workers would need to be looked after for better retention through mental health supports and other means in dealing with the pressures faced.

Secondly, he said a fair contract with physicians would need to be reached to “end the war” between government and doctors.

“It really does matter the attitude that the government brings to the table in how they work and collaborate with healthcare professionals,” he said.

In bringing doctors to rural areas, Shepherd said he would like to build the communities within to make them more attractive as a whole. He also said work needs to be done in the medical education system.

“I’ve talked with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta and some others and what they’ve said is when students get a chance to practice in a rural setting during their education, they are more likely to return to work in a rural setting and if we recruit students from rural settings they are more likely to return to their communities as well,” he said.

Finally, Shepherd called on the government to be more open and honest with Albertans, particularly with the Red Deer Hospital Centre expansion announced this February. After rdnewsNOW reached out to Alberta Health, no further details have been shared of the project.

READ: $1.8 billion announced for Red Deer hospital expansion

In Monday’s Legislative Assembly, NDP leader Rachel Notley questioned Premier Jason Kenney about these issues and his solutions.

“The baseline budget for health in Alberta today is $2 billion higher than it was under the NDP. We continue to lead the country in health investments. We are leading in capital investments to increase capacity, a key learning from the COVID era. We’ve increased by 1,800 the number of nurses working in Alberta, by 230 more paramedics working now than there was the case two years ago and of course with more doctors working in our system as well. And we expect AHS, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that these resources are properly deployed to address the urgent needs of Albertans,” said Premier Kenney.

AHS confirmed in a statement that recruitment efforts are underway, with 104 hires since November 1, 2021 in the operating room (OR), emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit.

“Recruitment is underway to fill three General Surgery Clinical Assistant positions at RDRHC, as well as three positions for Clinical Assistants for Anesthesia. Recruitment is also underway for Cardiology and General Internal Medicine physicians, with additional physicians being sought for the Emergency Department as well,” they said.

Currently looking to fill four OR nurse vacancies, AHS said the hospital continues to offer in-house OR training for interested staff with those already in the program expected to complete in July and August.

They stated the ED continues to be busy with seriously ill cases, COVID-19 cases and traumas.

“Efforts continue to create additional capacity through patient repatriation, transferring patients to rural sites to continue their recovery and discharging patients home with enhanced supports. Additionally the site is working with the Emergency Strategic Clinical Network on ways to decrease EMS offloading times in the ED to help release crews from hospital sooner,” AHS said.

READ: General surgeries being diverted from Red Deer Regional Hospital

READ: NDP sounds the alarm on ambulance backlog at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

by Alessia Proietti

NDP talks health crisis in front of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

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