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2010 Feb 25 (Thu)

Grande Prairie Bone and Joint Clinic

Kevin asks the Minister of Health about the future of the bone and joint clinic at the QE II hospital in Grande Prairie.

 

274 Alberta Hansard February 24, 2010

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Well, it’s an important day for health care in Grande Prairie. The bone and joint clinic at the QE II hospital in Grande Prairie reduced waiting times and human suffering by accelerating hip and knee surgery, yet despite the surge in orthopaedic funding announced last week, this clinic in Grande Prairie is being disbanded this week. To the Minister of Health and Wellness: who made the decision to phase out this program, and why?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware of the funding being phased out or ended per se. What I do know is that the current arrangement expires I think at the end of this fiscal year, but that issue is up to Alberta Health Services to review. As people here know, I’m meeting with them later tonight. Hon. member, I’d be pleased to address that question with Alberta Health Services later this evening.

Dr. Taft: Well, please do so because my information, which is very firm, is that they basically took their last patient on Monday. Again to the same minister: what steps will be taken to ensure that the people of the Peace Country have similar access to orthopaedic surgery as the people of Calgary?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I think we should make it clear that the clinic being talked about didn’t actually, to my knowledge at least, perform surgeries at the site. They did more of the coordination of ensuring that the services got provided somewhere in the region around there. So if there’s an issue here with respect to services for Peace River or other locations you’ve mentioned, then that, too, can come under the discussion this evening, and I’ll make sure it does.

Dr. Taft: It was a co-ordinating service that, as I said, accelerated wait times and helped reduce people’s suffering, and it should be continued. Again to the same minister. Alberta Health Services has a hip and knee steering committee, which had a role – and I know this in writing – in deciding to fund this clinic last June. Who are the members of the Alberta Health Services hip and knee steering committee, what’s their mandate, and exactly who are they accountable to?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’ll get the names that the member seeks; I don’t have them with me, obviously. I know that about six years ago when we created this hip and knee steering committee as a subgroup of a larger management committee, its purpose really was to look at reducing wait times and managing the times better. I think they did a good job, hon. member. I’m curious to know about the funding issue that you mentioned, so I will find out about that and get back to you with the answers.

 

 

Date: Thu Feb 25 16:36:23 MST 2010 Author: Rebecca IP: 68.149.137.22