calgary_news

  • Backroom deals, political influence are dictating Alberta's health care

    Today’s CBC story highlights the lengths that this government will go to in order to push their privatization agenda on Albertans. A new private orthopedic surgical facility—the largest ever in Alberta—has been proposed on the site of Ericksen Nissan, next to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, and has already gained the Minister of Health’s “tentative political support.” 

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    August 10, 2020

  • Government setting the stage for the closure and possible relocation of existing supervised consumption Services

    Government setting the stage for the closure and possible relocation of existing supervised consumption services
    As reported in the media today, Premier Jason Kenney is already setting the stage for what could be the closure or relocation of Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) in Alberta. While the Supervised Consumption Services Review Committee was tasked with reporting to the government by the end of 2019, their report has yet to be publicly released.
     
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    January 21, 2020

  • FOM joins Foothills front-line workers

    FOM stands in solidarity with Foothills front-line workers

    On July 3rd, Friends of Medicare will be joining AUPE front line workers, health care advocates, labour leaders, and community members as they come together in support of the invaluable Albertans who provide health care services and public services to all of us, day in and day out. 
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    July 03, 2019

  • Funding delays for new supervised consumption services are unacceptable

    Funding delays for new supervised consumption services are unacceptable
    On Friday, May 31, the UCP government announced that they will be suspending funding for supervised consumption sites currently under development in Medicine Hat and Red Deer, and a mobile consumption site in Calgary. Jason Luan, Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, indicated that his party will also be conducting a review of all existing sites, and that they will be “looking at consumption sites in light of the whole strategy – the overall strategy of intervention and treatment. It is a whole scan, from awareness, prevention and intervention to treatment.” The review has halted the development of the three proposed sites, and its results could impact the continued funding of existing sites across the province.
     
    It was a serious escalation in opioid-related deaths in Alberta that prompted a harm reduction response in the form of the approval of supervised consumption services, initially in 3 urban centres: Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge. The central tenet of harm reduction is the reduction of stigmas and judgments about drug use and addiction, and is based on the understanding that there are people who engage in these behaviors who are not willing or not able to stop doing so. Harm reduction aims to reduce the health risks associated with these behaviors, such as public safety concerns like public drug use and discarded needles, the transmission and spread of blood-borne infections, overdose, and ultimately death.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    June 03, 2019

  • Show me your friends, I'll tell you who you are

    MEDIA RELEASE
    OCTOBER 5, 2018
    EDMONTON

    Show me your friends, I'll tell you who you are

    Today the United Conservative Party will be hosting Premier Doug Ford in Calgary. This alliance between Premier Ford and Alberta Premier hopeful Jason Kenney, is in short, a concerning one for those of us who are wary about a potential repeat of the massive cuts that Ontario has been experiencing under Ford's leadership.
     

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    October 05, 2018

  • #TBT: Fall of the General Hospital

    Throw Back Thursday:
    Fall of the General Hospital, October 4th, 1998


    Today marks the 20th anniversary of the demolition of the Calgary General Hospital. Between 1992 and 2006, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein devoted his attention to eliminating Alberta’s budget deficit. Under his leadership, claiming health care to be one of the areas requiring the most ‘constraints’, Klein oversaw significant cuts to the health budget.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    October 04, 2018

  • Sundre Bed Closures Show Lack of Commitment to Care and Community

    Friends of Medicare are calling on Alberta Health Services to consult with and respect the wishes of the people of Sundre and the long-term care residents in the Sundre hospital.

     

    March 15, 2016

  • Victorian Order of Nurses Closure Another Example of Failure in Private Care

    After announcing today that they will be ceasing operations in Alberta, home care provider Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) have demonstrated yet again why experiments in private care must be ceased.
     
    "This is now twice since 2013 AHS has lost a contract for home care services," said Friends of Medicare Executive Director Sandra Azocar. "Home care should not be subject to the pressures of a competitive market. It's clear that instead of a race to the top for quality care, we have a race to the bottom to slash costs which squeezes out not-for-profit groups like VON."
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    November 25, 2015

  • As Spring returns every year, so do "feel good" announcements in election season

    Health Minister Stephen Mandel and Alberta Health Services (AHS) CEO Vickie Kaminski held a press conference today to announce measures that aim to improve access to health care. However, the announcement raised more questions than answers. Mandel announced that they will be 'reallocating' $50 million from existing health care funds to the Peter Lougheed Hospital, South Health Campus, Misericordia Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, and Grey Nuns Hospital to renovate and expand ER facilities.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    March 11, 2015

  • "Stock market" approach to health care cannot continue

    Friends of Medicare was appalled to hear that the Alberta Government is delaying the long-awaited cancer centre planned for Calgary. The government first promised funding to increase capacity for cancer care in 2005, and last year the government promised a world-class cancer facility would be open in Calgary by 2020. Now they are refusing to commit to a timeline for its completion.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    December 19, 2014