'This announcement will lead to uncertainty among care providers.' - Elisabeth Ballermann
Edmonton (16 May 2008) - The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) says it will watch closely over the coming months to ensure that the province's plan to create a new "super health board" will not compromise the high quality of health care Albertans have come to expect.
"It remains to be seen whether the minister's objective of freeing up resources to improve direct patient care has any impact," says HSAA president Elisabeth Ballermann.
"The people who are losing their health board jobs won't be able to go to the bedside, the community or to ambulatory care clinics. The number one problem in health care is the shortage of health professionals, and it is unclear how this reorganization will put more of them into the system," Ballermann notes.
"We would hope that the long-term ramifications of the minister's plan will lead to the development of more health-care providers."
Announced this week, the plan will abolish the province's existing nine regional health care boards and replace them with a single, Edmonton-based "super board." Three agencies, including the Alberta Cancer Board, the Alberta Mental Health Board and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, will also be absorbed by the new board, effective on April 1, 2009.
"While we have received assurances that the relationship between the employers of our members and the organization won't change, invariably, this announcement will lead to uncertainty among care providers," Ballermann notes.
"Clearly a change to a single health authority will lead to changed legal structures and relationships and we will do our utmost to protect the interests of our members. We will be keeping a watchful eye on the provincial government to ensure this isn't simply a launching pad for the further privatization of health-care services."
The HSAA will be seeking a meeting with the minister in the near future to discuss the government's current and future plans for health-care reform, as well as to clarify various issues concerning labour relations. NUPGE
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
