In response to my fellow bloggers and the major media outlets discussing rural hospitals closures.
Should we be concerned in the Crowsnest Pass? of course the hospital is indeed one of our greatest assets. Should we do something? of course we need to lobby our MLA, ministers whatever we can do.
Closure of our hospital would have a huge impact on our community, according to Census Canada 2006 a full 37% of our population is 55 or older, our median age is 48 one of the highest in the province of Alberta. Most of the people that are purchasing homes in the Crowsnest Pass over the last couple of years are weekenders, those people that have the ability to buy a second home are usually older, talking to local Realtors one of the selling features they use is the availability of a local hospital.
The people of Alberta just recently gave the government a ringing endorsement of their leadership, direction and policies. I have always argued that at every level of government you need an effective opposition. We all know 90% of the MLA's in the legislature are Conservatives, there is no opposition to force them to look at both sides of an issue, they do indeed have a free hand for the next four years.
Change is happening in the health care system, in the last few months the government has scrapped the regional health boards, they are taking over the EMS system, just today three top executives in the health system walked away from their jobs. Now the concept of closing rural hospitals is being floated around. In a province that is going to have a surplus of a couple of billion dollars based on $78 per barrel Oil (Not even close to today's price). In the Crowsnest Pass we are 45km away from the next nearest hospital in Pincher Creek, when you look at the numbers I have quoted above losing our hospital would indeed be devastating!
1 comment:
It's always been a sad example of not realizing the value of something until it's gone - but in this case, I think we're pretty fortunate to have such support for the CNP Hospital.
But, unfortunately, it is all a numbers game. Speaking strictly from a primary care standpoint 0 I can't even imagine what it would be like if our hospital closed down - I know Troy and our EMS service is pushed to the limit as it stands now, imagine if they had to transport patients to Pincher Creek for urgent care - especially through Cowley in February! As well, anyone in the town who has a scanner knows how often EMS is called to York Creek Lodge (once a day is certainly not an exaggeration - ask any of our EMS people)
Having such a strong lobby (not to mention a mayor who himself is a physician) will certainly play in our favour should our local hospital shut its doors.
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