Dear Editor,
Some time ago a secret government study revealed the Conservatives were closing some hospitals which included Castor, Coronation, Consort, Oyen and Hanna. The government immediately stated this was just a paper drawn up within the health care department and was merely a study that might not come about. A short time after this another study was brought out stating all the helicopter pads were being closed at the hospitals rumoured to shut down.
If these medical facilities were to close the people in the Drumheller/Stettler constituency would face long trips with hardships and perhaps death. The Conservative government must feel the Drumheller/Stettler constituency to be a safe seat to use this area for experimental purposes i.e.: health care. If people were to have any type of health problem then they had better plan on a full day to resolve same.
Along highways in this area about every 75 kilometres a pull-out should be set aside and at these pull-outs two structures would have to be established. One structure to be a maternity ward so if baby came early it would be better conditions than along the highway, these places would be known as government birthing stations. The other structure could be stocked with first-aid products so people could stop to wrap abrasions, stabilize broken bones and have some control of blood flow.
If private health care were established at these hospitals, then people would have medical attention close at hand. The government would still have to pay monies now allowed per person and perhaps people would see better run facilities than the system in place now. Private health care would probably take over long-term care facilities and this would allow people to stay within the area close to relatives and friends. Competition between the different facilities would create better service for the people in the area.
If medical facilities were to close, with no other service then some people would have to relocate to be near medical help. If this were to come about, towns would shrink and central Alberta would be somewhat more desolate.
There is no doubt, in future phases other health facilities would close and this would include centers like Drumheller and Stettler. When the Conservatives are finished restructuring health care as they have lost control completely by bad management, the only hospitals under public health care would be Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary and Lethbridge. It is too bad the government could not let the monies flow to the facilities and people that care for the people in need instead of money being used for buyouts and bonuses.
Dave France
Stettler, Alberta