AUPE President Guy Smith responds to AHS budget announcement
EDMONTON – “The devil is in the details,” Alberta Union of Provincial Employees President Guy Smith said in response to Alberta Health Services vague budget announcement today.
“Really, what Martha and Henry want is to be taken care of properly the next time they have to go to the hospital. But there’s not much in today’s announcement to assure them that’s going to be the case,” said AUPE President Guy Smith.
“There’s a lot of money committed to all sorts of experiments, but only a vague commitment to increase staffing, which would be the fastest and most direct way to improve care,” Smith said.
Smith is also concerned about the frequent references to “continuing care” in Alberta Health Services budget and business plan, and the omission of “long-term care.”
“It’s as if Alberta Health Services put the term ‘long-term care’ on a list of banned words,” said Smith. “It’s extremely worrying. The government has a plan for seniors to ‘age in the right place,’ but does it include nursing homes or auxiliary hospitals? This budget doesn’t say.”
AUPE is leading a campaign against the closing of 216 long-term care beds at the Red Deer Nursing Home and Valley Park Manor. AHS is spending over $5 million to replace the beds and add just four more at a new Extendicare facility. The union is arguing against the bed closures because 230 people are on a waiting list for long-term care in Central Alberta.
Smith noted that AHS’s news release on today’s budget announcement refers to 700 Albertans waiting for long-term care in hospitals, but neglected to mention a further 1,000 Albertans waiting for long-term care placement in the community.
“AHS, Alberta Health and Wellness, and Seniors and Community Supports all seem to be in denial about the fact that some seniors need the level of care — long-term care — which is only provided in a nursing home or auxiliary hospital,” said Smith.
“Eventually Martha and Henry may need to move to a nursing home, and looking at this budget, who knows if it will be there for them.”
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For more information:
Guy Smith, President, AUPE – 780-265-2294
Mark Wells, Communications Officer, AUPE – 780-930-3406