Longtime local healthcare advocate and town councilor Leona Thorogood has been appointed as one of 14 members to the new health advisory council for central Alberta under Alberta Health Services Board.
“I decided to offer my services on the council because I believe as a rural community, we need to have our voice heard,” said Thorogood, who serves as councilor for the Town of Stettler and represents the town on Stettler and District Ambulance Association and also chairs Stettler Health Services Foundation alongside being a member of the physician recruitment committee.
“There are alternative methods to deliver health care and I hope they will be used here in Stettler and in the east central region.”
Members will serve in an advisory role for Council 9, the former David Thompson Health Region.
Acting in an advisory capacity, the role of the councils will be to engage community members, gathering input and feedback on local health service delivery in communities across the province.
“Health advisory councils provide Albertans with a significant opportunity to help us best plan for and deliver quality, accessible and sustainable health services in their council areas,” said Ken Hughes who chairs the board.
The newly appointed councils are expected to hold their first meetings early in the New Year.
An orientation will be part of those meetings. Councils will be expected to meet four to six times per year.
Council members will serve two- or three-year terms depending on an individual’s availability to make the appropriate time commitment.
Varied term lengths will also stagger turnover and help maintain experience on councils. Members will be asked to recommend a council chair.
The board will have final approval.