On Tuesday, August 14, Banff-Cochrane MLA Ron Casey hosted a public conversation about health care for the Drumheller and area community at the Badlands Community Facility. Edmonton-Riverview MLA Steve Young and Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman were also in attendance.
The whole focus of the meeting was for the provincial government to understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of the health care system from the bottom up.
“We need to hear issues from those utilizing the system, those working in the system, and just from people on the street,” said Ron Casey, MLA for Banff-Cochrane.
He said these sessions are to gather information about what’s working in health care and what’s not.
“There were some really good ideas that came out here today about some things that can make [the health care system] work better,” said Casey.
Many issues were discussed during two and a half hours of the meeting.
Issues surrounding access to family doctors, staffing issues within the health care system in the rural community setting, emergency wait times, the care of senior citizens and the 911 dispatch system were some of the key issues brought up during the conversation.
“I appreciate the fact the government is wanting to listen to the people. It’s democracy in action,” said Rick Strankman, Drumheller-Stettler MLA.
Casey said they had a few more stops to make, and that all the information they gather has to be into the Minister of Health and Wellness, Fred Horne, by early September.
The government will then analyze and compare all the data retrieved and move forward from there said Casey.
“I would just like to know though, [the government] is listening or are they hearing. There’s a big difference,” said Elaine Berdahl, who attended the meeting as a member of the public.
