United Nurses of Alberta is pleased to learn that the plans to close most or all of the beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton have been shelved.
"Alberta Health Services and the province are wisely backing away from a blow that would dramatically have hurt mental health capacity in the province," President Heather Smith said today.
She also pointed out that the strong opposition from Albertans about the closures at AHE made a real difference.
UNA has concerns that the transfer to Villa Caritas include "All support programs and resources available" as promised in the AHS statement.
"It would be unfair to patients to transfer them to a new facility with reduced staffing and lower levels of care," says Heather Smith.
"The psycho-geriatric patients from Alberta Hospital Edmonton need high levels of care, and of psychiatric specialized care. We have seen few details about the plans for care at Villa Caritas," Heather Smith says.
UNA also points out that establishing a new geriatric mental health "campus" at Villa Caritas and the Misericordia Hospital should be an expansion, not a reduction, in overall capacity.
UNA is also communicating with AHS and the Health Minister about failing to consult with the nursesí union in its process to date.
"We are concerned the Committee did not get the full picture without consultation with the largest professional staff group, front-line nursing professionals," Heather Smith said.
"We will insist that nurses are fully consulted as AHS works on a province-wide plan for mental health," Heather Smith said.
|
