Alberta NDP wants emergency debate on children’s health care

The Alberta NDP has called on the UCP government to hold a debate in the legislature Wednesday on what it’s calling the “children’s health care crisis.”

However, according to the opposition party, “the UCP refused to allow debate on addressing the escalating crisis in children’s health care to take place,” and prioritized the sovereignty act.

“Alberta’s dedicated front-line workers are doing everything they can to care for patients amid the chaos and fatigue, but they cannot go on like this,” said Rakhi Pancholi, the Alberta NDP Children’s Services Critic.

“We cannot wait for wave after wave of whatever virus is out there to hit us. Albertans need action now to ease the chaos in our hospitals and the unimaginable stress and anxiety it is inflicting on Alberta’s dedicated health-care workers.”

Lindsey Kemp, the mother of six-year-old who is immunocompromised, says the pressures on hospitals worries her. Her son George has Crohn’s disease and has had two heart transplants, making him prone to hospital visits.

“I think a lot of people aren’t afraid for themselves about what viruses are out there, or how devastating it might become for our health-care system, perhaps because they have not been impacted personally by the challenges facing our hospitals,” Lindsey said.

“When we are there, we talk with our doctors and our nurses and we see the true reality of a system stretched to the limit.

“Our doctors have expressed concern and reached out directly to Stollery families encouraging us to be extra vigilant right now, because space is limited for children, staffing is low, and equipment is also running low.”

Lindsey says the added pressures on hospitals forced staff to use playrooms as patient rooms. This is in addition to non-critical surgeries being cancelled and kids’ cardiac care having to wait for transfers.

“My plea is for my fellow Albertans to have some compassion and understand how your actions can affect others. The people around you might look healthy but there are more vulnerable people in our society than you think,” she said.

“And I am really hoping the government will support the Opposition’s motion this afternoon for an emergency debate on children’s health care.”

READ MORE:

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• Smith fires AHS board, appoints administrator

• ‘Warped stance on COVID’: Fired Alberta Health Services board member calls out Smith

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“Patients are waiting too long across our health system, despite the excellent work of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other front-line staff,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Nov. 17 when she announced Dr. John Cowell as the appointed full-time official administrator.

“We need more urgent action to improve access. Albertans want accountability within AHS and they want to know that a world-class health system, and level of care is available when they need it.”