Wildrose Accuses Government of Egregious Health Mismanagement
Today, the Wildrose Alliance Caucus responded to newly submitted court evidence showing Calgary’s privately operated Health Resource Centre (HRC) is providing publicly funded hip and knee surgeries substantially better, cheaper and faster than those performed in Alberta’s public hospitals. In addition, the evidence seems to substantiate the claim that Alberta Health Services (AHS) did indeed renege on an agreement with HRC forcing the world-class surgery centre into receivership.
“If this evidence is true, the implications are very serious,” said Danielle Smith, Wildrose Alliance Caucus Leader. “For one, it would mean that AHS is running our hospitals so inefficiently, that a private surgical centre can provide taxpayer funded surgeries more than twice as fast and at almost half the cost.” The Wildrose also expressed concern with yet another example of the Provincial Government tearing up a valid legal agreement with a private company, once again damaging the Province’s credibility in attracting private investment across all sectors of the economy.
“It’s like a bad recurring dream,” stated Heather Forsyth, MLA Calgary-Fish Creek and Wildrose Alliance Health Critic. “AHS appears to have pulled the rug out from underneath our highest performing orthopaedic surgical centre for no logical reason. It is evident that if the Health Minister doesn’t step in and put a stop to this debacle, hundreds of Albertans waiting for these surgeries will needlessly suffer.”
Smith called upon AHS CEO, Dr. Stephen Duckett to immediately release an independent, apples-to-apples comparative analysis of the quality, cost and efficiency of all treatments provided in Alberta’s public hospitals compared with those undertaken in private facilities in order to assess best practices moving forward.
Attached is a graphical summary of the evidence filed in court by HRC outlining the cost, efficiency and quality of its procedures compared with other Alberta hospitals, as well as a copy of the affidavit of Bernie Simpson, COO of Networc Health (HRC). Paragraphs 4 thru 24 and 35 thru 104 are particularly relevant (supporting exhibits were also filed in court but are not included in this release).
The Wildrose Alliance Caucus advances competent, principled and conservative policies that will limit government spending growth, increase economic opportunities, empower communities and strengthen individual liberties and freedom.
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For further information or to arrange an interview, media are invited to contact the Wildrose Caucus at:
Jeffery Trynchy
Legislative Assistant
Tel: (780)638-3576