PrintNo nursing jobs will be lost at High River General Hospital: Alberta Health Services
Statement to Members of UNA Local 80, High River General Hospital:
Alberta Health Services has made a commitment to maintain all Registered Nursing jobs at the High River General Hospital despite the plan to close 25 long-term care beds in the facility and replace them with a lower level of care in a private-sector facility.
AHS CEO Dr. Chris Eagle made the commitment in discussions with UNA this morning.
Dr. Eagle recognized the hard work and dedication of the membership of UNA Local 80 during and after the flooding that ravaged High River. He committed to working with the leadership of Local 80 to ensure all Registered Nurses working in High River continue to work in the hospital and that services are restored as quickly as possible.
AHS and the operator of a new private-sector facility in High River have now both confirmed, as correctly reported by UNA earlier this week, that the 25 long-term care beds slated to close in the High River General Hospital will be replaced in the private facility by Designated Assisted Living beds that offer a lower level of care and do not require a Registered Nurse on site at all times.
UNA continues to urge Health Minister Fred Horne to stop the continuing policy of reducing numbers of long-term care beds in Alberta and replacing them with assisted living beds.
LONG-TERM CARE VERSUS DESIGNATED ASSISTED LIVING
Services Long-Term Care/Nursing Home Designated Assisted Living
Accommodation Fees Regulated by province Not regulated
Call bell Supplied by facility Supplied by resident
Furniture Supplied by facility Supplied by resident
Linens Supplied by facility Supplied by resident
Medications Supplied by facility Supplied by resident
Nursing RN on site 24/7 No RN required on site
Physician Medical director required No medical director
Medically necessary Supplied by facility Paid by resident
transport
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