red_deer_news
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Albertans should be very worried about today’s drastic health care announcement
EDMONTON — Following yesterday’s leaked documents, Danielle Smith’s government followed through on announcing a massive restructuring of public health care in Alberta, as well as a new Alberta Health Services Board chaired by a former conservative cabinet minister, Lyle Oberg. None of this was part of the UCP’s platform in this year’s election.
After years of unprecedented pressures on our public health care system, health care workers and patients in this province are seeking certainty when it comes to something as important as our public health care system. They aren’t looking for changes of this scale being directed by politicians, rather than health care experts and community needs.
Written by Alyssa Pretty
November 08, 2023 -
OPINION: LaGrange needs to rethink opinion on Red Deer hospital
OPINION: LaGrange needs to rethink opinion on Red Deer hospital
This Op-Ed by FOM's Executive Director, Chris Gallaway, originally appeared in the Red Deer Advocate on May 20, 2022.
Last week, I joined a group of Albertans who were upset by the government’s decision to cut the insulin pump program in the Legislature Gallery to watch Question Period.
Minister Adrianna LaGrange was responding to questions on behalf of the Health Minister that day. At one point she stated “as the MLA for Red Deer-North I’m extremely happy that our government is finally dealing with the issue of capacity within Red Deer.”
It was surprising to hear LaGrange would be proud of anything that’s happening with health care in Red Deer right now.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
May 24, 2022 -
Albertans Rallying Together for Public Health Care
Friends of Medicare to participate in events in five cities calling on the provincial government to put people before profit
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
May 13, 2022 -
Any new federal health funding must be targeted towards stronger public health care in Alberta
Premiers' demand for federal dollars through increased Canada Health Transfer must have strings attached to ensure it goes to improving health care for all
The Council of the Federation, made up of the 13 provincial and territorial premiers, are meeting tomorrow with a focus on their united push for an increase in the Canada Health Transfer that the Federal government provides. Over the past two years, many of the premiers have used the ongoing pandemic as a justification to call for an unconditional increase in health funding.“Even during this global pandemic our provincial UCP government has repeatedly shown they can’t be trusted to prioritize our public health care system over their ideological push for corporate tax cuts, layoffs, funding cuts and privatization,” said Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 03, 2022 -
Friends of Medicare stands today in support of Albertans with disabilities
October 27, 2020
EDMONTONFriends of Medicare stands today in support of Albertans with disabilities
Friends of Medicare will be standing today in support of Albertans with disabilities, who are currently supported and cared for under publicly-run Direct Operations at homes and respite centres in Edmonton and Calgary.Approximately 200 guardians of disabled Albertans were given notice on June 10th that the UCP government was “exploring alternative service delivery”—code for privatization—of Edmonton’s Rosecrest home for children, the Hardisty and Balwin respite centers, Edmonton group homes, and Calgary’s Scenic Bow home.Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
October 27, 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.Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
January 21, 2020 -
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.Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
June 03, 2019 -
Restrained Spending in Budget 2018 Sets Unwelcome Precedent
MEDIA RELEASE
MARCH 22, 2018RESTRAINED SPENDING IN BUDGET 2018 SETS UNWELCOME PRECEDENT
In the past three budgets, this government has managed to maintain the line of health care spending, staying slightly above population and inflation growth. Budget 2018 represents a concerning trend of spending restraints by only increasing health care spending by 3%, not even meeting population and inflation growth of 3.5%.Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 22, 2018 -
Budget 2017 Resists Pressure to Cut Needed Health Services
For Immediate ReleaseEdmontonMarch 16, 2017Budget 2017 Resists Pressure to Cut Needed Health Services
Major Work Needs to Begin on Expanding and Improving Universal Public Care
Friends of Medicare are pleased to see funding increases of 3.2% which will cover spending pressures in inflation and population growth. Friends of Medicare are also glad to see the government willing to resist wrong headed calls to cutback an already stretched system.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 16, 2017 -
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