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2010 Feb 14 (Sun)

Alberta Health Services Board

Kevin questions the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr. Zwozdesky, on the decision making structure of Alberta Health Services.

 

43 Alberta Hansard February 9, 2010

Dr. Taft: Shortly after he was appointed, the Minister of Health and Wellness stated that his ministerial style was, and I quote, that he’s always been hands on. That was what he said. Then within days of becoming minister, he completely changed a number of major decisions made by Alberta Health Services. Just when it didn’t seem possible, there’s even more confusion than ever within Alberta Health Services. To the Minister of Health and Wellness: as a hands-on minister is he running Alberta Health Services or is Ken Hughes and their board and staff?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, let’s understand the body. This body has two arms. The body is called Alberta Health and Wellness, and the ministry is called the Alberta Health and Wellness ministry. One arm is the delivery arm, and that is Alberta Health Services. It is very competently run by a gentleman named Mr. Ken Hughes, and he is doing an outstanding job. That arm reports to this body. The other arm is the Alberta Health and Wellness department. That arm also is connected to and reports to this body.

Dr. Taft: Well, thanks. I appreciate the minister’s anatomically correct explanation. Let’s see if this body has a head, Mr. Speaker. Will the minister clarify whether it was his decision, the Premier’s, Ken Hughes’s, or Stephen Duckett’s to keep the 290 acute-care beds open in Calgary and Edmonton? Whose decision?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, it was a joint decision, not quite involving all the parties that he mentioned but most certainly involving direction from the Premier overall to improve the health care system. For the Health Services folks to have found some efficiencies that allowed us to make some of those improvements so quickly, I’m grateful, but I did connect with them prior to making any comments on it. I hope you will agree that it’s important to keep those 300 acute-care beds open in Edmonton and Calgary. That’s what we’re trying so hard to do, and we will.

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Well, again to the same minister: will the minister tell the Assembly whether the CEO and board of Alberta Health Services clear all their major policy decisions with himself before those decisions are enacted?

Mr. Zwozdesky: No, Mr. Speaker. They’re not required to, but I think there would be occasions when they may wish to at least speak with me about what policy decisions they’re taking. The reason that we appointed one province-wide board is so that we could take a look at the width and breadth of health care and health care costs and health care services so that we could make the improvements necessary. I hope that when the member sees the budget and the business plan coming out, the five-year guaranteed funding plan, a first of its kind, to my knowledge, anywhere in the country, will in fact do that.

 

 

Date: Sun Feb 14 13:20:10 MST 2010 Author: Rebecca IP: 68.149.137.22