Wait Time Alliance
November 1, 2010
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Wait Time Alliance was created by Canada’s leading medical association to address concerns the medical community had about growing wait times. In its most recent report card two provinces received a failing grade, Alberta being one of them. Why? Because this government failed to provide any data to the group. Not only is that an insult to the medical community, but frankly it’s an insult to all Albertans. My questions are to the minister of health. Why didn’t you provide the data to the Wait Time Alliance when you continually talk about being open and accountable to Albertans?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’ll be happy to take a look into the details. I’m not sure what period in time is being requested or referred to here, but I will tell the hon. member that I’ll have a look into that matter as soon as I leave the House.
Mrs. Forsyth: Mr. Speaker, I just don’t know what to say. Again to the same minister: when will you table a comprehensive list of wait times in Alberta so Albertans will have the real picture on how their health care system is performing?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you. That’s a good question. Mr. Speaker, as people here would know, we did have a wait-list registry that was up on the website, where people could go and look, for example, to see how quickly they could get in for a hip operation. Unfortunately, there were some computer difficulties, I’m told, that developed about a year ago, so the site had to be taken down, but one of the priorities for Alberta Health Services is to get it back up and functioning. Secondly, I’ve also asked for public reporting on, specifically, emergency room wait times from Alberta Health Services on a persite basis, and that is in motion as we speak.
Mrs. Forsyth: Mr. Speaker, again, we knew about the wait times. We knew about the computer glitch. That should be an emergency because it’s urgent for Albertans to find out. To the same minister: will you commit right here and right now to participating in the 2011 Wait Time Alliance report card?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, as soon as I have a chance to read it through and discuss it with the people who are delivering the service, I’ll be happy to undertake the proper response to that question. But I want to make it clear that we have just gone through the single largest amalgamation in Canadian history, of 90,000 employees, and there were some bumps and bruises along the way. Those are being sorted out, including the wait-list registry.