It does not take a public inquiry to identify the causes for backups in Alberta's emergency departments, say the provinces' nurses.
"The ER doctors and nurses have made it clear that the shortage of hospital beds was the cause for long waits and delays in our health system," says UNA President Heather Smith.
"We have a million more citizens and half the hospital beds we had 20 years ago, it should be no surprise there are bad backups," she said.
Boom and bust funding and dramatic cuts in staffing and services are the main culprits.
But nurses welcome the governmentís announcement of an inquiry, if it points the way constructively forward, and does not turn into a blaming exercise focused on the past.
"Let's get on with the job. We have great opportunities for integration of the continuum of care. Letís make it better and make it work," Heather Smith says.
The nurses' union also points out that this year Alberta Health Services reports 1,700 hospital beds occupied by patients who could be moved to long-term care beds, if the province had the beds.
"A huge part of the problem is the misguided approach to seniorsí and long-term care services that stretches back almost 20 years now," says Heather Smith.
"Stable, predictable funding and a commitment to address the needs of Albertans, in hospital, long-term care and primary care will see things improve" she said. |
