Critics say details lacking as $11.2B health budget targets seniors, wait times
By Tamara Gignac, Calgary Herald June 30, 2010 Comments (3)
•Story•Photos ( 1 )
Stephen Duckett, president and CEO of Alberta Health Services, sits alongside AHS vice chair Catherine Roozen during the AHS public board meeting June 29 at Rockyview Hospital.Photograph by: Ted Rhodes, Calgary HeraldThe province's health superboard approved an $11.2-billion spending plan Tuesday that includes opening more beds for seniors and tackling wait times in crowded emergency departments.
Flush with a sizable increase in government funding, Alberta Health Services will spend $81 million to create 1,100 continuing care spaces across the province this year.
That will open much-needed acute care beds in hospitals and have a "significant" impact on hospital wait times and patient care, superboard CEO Stephen Duckett said Tuesday.
"People are waiting too long in emergency departments. What we want to do is use the capacity that's been freed up . . . to help improve the flow," Duckett said.
But critics charge the new budget lacks specifics on how the superboard intends to spend money that amounts to more than a quarter of total provincial spending.
"There's more detail in a household grocery budget," said Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason.
"Alberta Health Services is spending 10 times more than the budget of the entire Ministry of Children and Youth Services and all (the superboard) has provided is a vague list of multibillion-dollar expenses."
Liberal Leader David Swann echoed Mason's concerns. "There's no detail in terms of where this budget is going," he said.
But AHS argues the budget is clear on health priorities: provide seniors with a range of care options and ease the crunch in emergency rooms.
In Calgary, some 244 patients a day occupy a spot in one of the city's hospitals while waiting for a transfer to a nursing home or other care facility.
Tuesday's budget is the first since the province promised a cash infusion for the health system, writing off the superboard's deficit -- which had ballooned to $1.3 billion -- and boosting its share of the budget to $9 billion from $7.7 billion.
Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said he's pleased with the way the funds will be spent. "I like the fact (AHS) is focusing on two central areas of big concern."
Even with a six per cent increase in funding, the superboard said it doesn't have a lot of wiggle room. A spike in labour costs or a sudden need for new hospital beds "could impact the organization's financial sustainability," the board noted in Tuesday's report.
The AHS isn't in as tough a financial position as it was last year, but the board plans to proceed cautiously, said Duckett.
"We're still going to be tight on spending, set out priorities right and keep an eye on the budget," he said.
The biggest expense for the superboard -- $5.7 billion -- is salaries and benefits.
United Nurses of Alberta president Heather Smith said she's pleased to see restrictions on hiring are being lifted. That could see the addition of 450 new people this year, according to AHS.
"There's an indication there's going to be expansion, which is what we need in terms of opening beds," she said.
AHS has pledged to open 2,000 continuing care spaces by 2013.
But Friends of Medicare executive director Dave Eggen said he's concerned the budget doesn't provide seniors with the right kind of care, noting most of the new beds are assisted-living spaces as opposed to beds in nursing homes.
tgignac@theherald.canwest.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
It's a tricky business!
That's what Friends of Medicare is saying about proposed changes to the Alberta Health Act.
Executive Director, David Eggen met with the Minister’s Advisory Committee Friday to discuss those changes.
He says more contracting out of health care services for private delivery is the biggest worry. "Private health delivery costs more money, doesn't deliver better health outcomes, and is certainly not transparent."
While some private health care does exist in Alberta, Eggen questions whether more is needed.
The government plans to introduce new health legislation in the fall session.(sb, ro)
That's what Friends of Medicare is saying about proposed changes to the Alberta Health Act.
Executive Director, David Eggen met with the Minister’s Advisory Committee Friday to discuss those changes.
He says more contracting out of health care services for private delivery is the biggest worry. "Private health delivery costs more money, doesn't deliver better health outcomes, and is certainly not transparent."
While some private health care does exist in Alberta, Eggen questions whether more is needed.
The government plans to introduce new health legislation in the fall session.(sb, ro)
It's a tricky business!
That's what Friends of Medicare is saying about proposed changes to the Alberta Health Act.
Executive Director, David Eggen met with the Minister’s Advisory Committee Friday to discuss those changes.
He says more contracting out of health care services for private delivery is the biggest worry. "Private health delivery costs more money, doesn't deliver better health outcomes, and is certainly not transparent."
While some private health care does exist in Alberta, Eggen questions whether more is needed.
The government plans to introduce new health legislation in the fall session.(sb, ro)
That's what Friends of Medicare is saying about proposed changes to the Alberta Health Act.
Executive Director, David Eggen met with the Minister’s Advisory Committee Friday to discuss those changes.
He says more contracting out of health care services for private delivery is the biggest worry. "Private health delivery costs more money, doesn't deliver better health outcomes, and is certainly not transparent."
While some private health care does exist in Alberta, Eggen questions whether more is needed.
The government plans to introduce new health legislation in the fall session.(sb, ro)
ctvcalgary.ca
The budget for Alberta Health Services (AHS) was met with skepticism and scorn on Tuesday.
Many seniors are upset about continuing-care beds.
The province says it will open 3,000 of those beds in the next three years with most being assisted-living beds or supported-living beds as opposed to long-term care ones.
Stan Nykeil is an advocate for seniors' rights and worries a lack of commitment to long-term care beds will result in the off-loading of care to seniors and their families.
Friends of Medicare is critical of the board's budget saying they just re-announced old plans under a new name. "The government can't just change the definition and try to make the problem go away. If we don't look at the long-term care issue straight in the eye then we won't reduce wait times," says David Eggen.
The board defends its budget. "The 2010/11 budget responds to two critical priorities – reducing the time Albertans spend waiting for care in emergency departments and ensuring that Albertans have a wide range of options to remain independent and healthy as they age," says Ken Hughes, the chair of the AHS board.
The CEO of Alberta Health Services says more beds for continuing care will free up beds for surgery patients and ease emergency room loads. "It will make a significant impact on the flow through the system. It will make a significant impact on our acute hospitals where 700 people are waiting for long-term care. That's the equivalent of a whole new hospital," says Stephen Duckett.
The budget for Alberta Health Services (AHS) was met with skepticism and scorn on Tuesday.
Many seniors are upset about continuing-care beds.
The province says it will open 3,000 of those beds in the next three years with most being assisted-living beds or supported-living beds as opposed to long-term care ones.
Stan Nykeil is an advocate for seniors' rights and worries a lack of commitment to long-term care beds will result in the off-loading of care to seniors and their families.
Friends of Medicare is critical of the board's budget saying they just re-announced old plans under a new name. "The government can't just change the definition and try to make the problem go away. If we don't look at the long-term care issue straight in the eye then we won't reduce wait times," says David Eggen.
The board defends its budget. "The 2010/11 budget responds to two critical priorities – reducing the time Albertans spend waiting for care in emergency departments and ensuring that Albertans have a wide range of options to remain independent and healthy as they age," says Ken Hughes, the chair of the AHS board.
The CEO of Alberta Health Services says more beds for continuing care will free up beds for surgery patients and ease emergency room loads. "It will make a significant impact on the flow through the system. It will make a significant impact on our acute hospitals where 700 people are waiting for long-term care. That's the equivalent of a whole new hospital," says Stephen Duckett.
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