New changes promised with draft of Alberta Health Act
Posted Nov 18, 2013 1:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Sweeping changes to our healthcare system are in the works if Premier Alison Redford gets her way.
Monday morning, standing beside Health Minister Fred Horne, Redford proclaimed a new Alberta Health Act is on its way.
Consultations are expected to start on January 1st, 2014.
As part of the act, the government will also set up a Health Advocate’s office, which will assist Alberta’s new patients in navigating the system.
The Mental Health Patient Advocate and the new Seniors’ Advocate will be consolidated into this office.
Its duties will include assisting Albertans, receiving and referring complaints and requesting investigations as well as public awareness about the health charter.
Officials hope it will improve collaboration, reduce duplication and streamline administration.
Consultations will start in January when the government appoints an advocate.
The office should be fully operational by April 1, 2014.
Premier Alison Redford says they wanted to delay its implementation as Minister Fred Horne met with stakeholders.
“We wanted to give him the opportunity to make sure that as he was making the changes that we think were necessary as the new government at the time in the health care system, that he was able to take every opportunity to make this effective,” she says.
“It is in fact the first time in Confederation that a province has attempted to define what it stands for in terms of public health care,” says Health Minister Fred Horne.
“This should help us to do a better job of evaluating the health care system in the future, so this is separate and apart from the day to day operations of Alberta Health Services,” he adds.
