Premier visits Strathmore

Times Reporter

 

Premier Alison Redford was in Strathmore on April 2 to announce the creation of 140 family care clinics across the province, in communities like Strathmore, if re-elected. 

“I strongly feel that all Albertans should be able to access quality healthcare in their community, this is fundamental, travel for healthcare should be minimized,” said Redford.

Redford said as a Progressive Conservative government they were committed in the early 70’s to making sure that communities like Strathmore thrived, and to making sure publicly funded healthcare was accessible which is why there are some early medical facilities already in place.   

“As we see populations change we have to do more, and we have to think differently about how we access healthcare. So we have introduced, and today I have announced, 140 family care clinics that will be established across the province in the next three years,” said Redford.

“It’s important for us to do that because it is a different way of thinking about healthcare, and it’s a different way of thinking about how we work with a population that needs different healthcare services. Clinics will be open at least seven days a week, from at least nine in the morning until seven at night. I know as the mom of a nine-year-old very often I don’t need an appointment at a family doctor, which is the conventional way of getting healthcare, or accessing emergency rooms after hours,” said Redford. 

“What I need is the ability to go see a nurse, who knows me, who knows my family, to get a prescription renewed, or just to get a prescription. Just to know the ear infection is taken care of or whatever that might be. It’s not the solution to everything but it’s a different solution to the needs of a lot of Albertans so that the acute care system can actually deal with the people that have the acute care needs.”

Since October 1, there have already been three facilities developed, which are currently up, and running. 

Redford said they plan to build on the concepts already started at the East Edmonton Health Centre, the East Calgary Health Centre and the Slave Lake Family Clinic. The concept puts community care clinics in place that meet the needs of that community. 

The facilities employ some doctors, but also licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, dietitians, chiropractors, pharmacists and much more. 

 She feels it will take six to nine months of working with communities and Alberta Health Services to decide exactly how each of the 140 communities would like to implement their family care clinic. 

“This is a government that makes commitments, meets our commitments and acts quickly on them. I’m really proud of the fact that we’ve been able to do that.”