EDMONTON – The UCP government’s transfer of continuing care programs from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to the Ministry of Seniors, Community, and Social Services is another step in the wrong direction for health care in this province, says the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).
At the annual conference of the Alberta Continuing Care Association this Wednesday (Oct. 16), Premier Danielle Smith said that health care in Alberta ‘needs catalysts for change,’ and that this would involve ‘Uber-izing’ the services that Albertans receive. She described a ‘connecting platform’ that would link people in need of care to providers who have available beds and would be similar to how ‘you can order a ride or a meal.’
Curtis Jackson, AUPE vice-president and chair of the union’s Anti-Privatization Committee, sees this as a precursor to further privatization and the potential profiteering of health care in Alberta.
“This government continues to pretend it is running a Fortune 500 company instead of a province,” he says. “What Albertans need are more beds, higher staff to resident ratios, and more front-line home health care providers backed by a fully funded and publicly delivered health care system without the undertone of generating profits.”
AUPE Vice-President Sandra Azocar questions how this administrative move will help Albertans who need these services.
“This announcement does not address any of the issues facing seniors’ care,” she says. “The bottom-line is seniors care is health care, and moving continuing care out of AHS will do nothing to improve the lives of Albertans.”
“Moving continuing care to a new ministry is not what seniors need. Seniors need the government to mandate the hours of care provided to residents per day. Seniors need the government to adopt and enforce long-term care standards and reinstate an independent Office of Seniors Advocate. Seniors need improved care conditions, which only comes from improved working conditions for healthcare staff.”
AUPE is western Canada’s largest union, standing 95,000 members strong. Approximately 62,000 members work in healthcare.
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AUPE Vice-Presidents Sandra Azocar and Curtis Jackson are available for interviews.
Please contact Jon Olsen, AUPE communications officer at j.olsen@aupe.org and 780-904-0876.