Day 11 on the campaign trail
Posted Apr 5, 2012 11:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Health care is the focus of day 11 on the Alberta election campaign trail.
It started with Wildrose leader Danielle Smith making a short stop at the new South Calgary Health Campus where she guaranteed emergency wait times.
“The Wildrose Alberta Patient Wait Time Guarantee means an end to Albertans languishing too long in healthcare queues in pain and in danger,” Smith said. “It means our public health system will be strengthened by introducing choice and competition, empowering local hospitals to make decisions, and putting an end to the queue jumping and bureaucratic paralysis that have been shameful hallmarks of healthcare under the PCs.”
Soon after, PC’s Alison Redford announced “Fast-Track” emergency rooms, a model she hopes will lower wait times.
“This new “Fast-track” model is to aid those patients requiring easily identifiable emergency treatments such as broken arms or burns,” said Premier Redford. “Through this initiative, these patients will be appropriately directed through a quicker screening process that will result in faster treatment and a faster return home for all patients.”
Liberal Leader Raj Sherman said “Fast-Track” is a great idea.
“Fantastic idea,” said Sherman. “Why didn’t we think of it earlier? We need to come up with a name for this. Why don’t we call it triage?”
He said what the province needs is more home care funding, an increase in wellness and prevention measures and to train more medical professionals.
The Albert Party is promising predictable, long term funding for municipalities as well as creating Large City Charters for Calgary and Edmonton.
“Local government represents just as many Albertans as the provincial government. We can’t pretend a one size fits all system is going to work”, said Glenn Taylor.
