Airdrie MLA Rob Anderson believes strength in numbers will force the Province to hear Airdrieís call for a 24-hour health facility, and heís looking for a least 2,400 residents to sign his petition.
Current growth estimates put the city of Airdrie on track for a projected population growth to more than 80,000 people in the next 10 years and Anderson said his campaign to gather signatures will show the Province and Alberta Health Services (AHS) that the need for an after hours facility is real.
ìCurrently, Airdrie residents are roughly 30 kilometres removed from the nearest 24-hour health care facility, with weather, transportation restrictions and traffic congestion, it makes it dangerous if not impossible for many Airdrie residents to travel to a 24-hour health care facility in a safe amount of time,î Anderson said.
The petition instructions and copies are available to sign and distribute and can be picked up at Andersonís constituency office at 209 Bowers Street.
Anderson said residents are invited to contact him at [email protected] if they have questions.
The petition will also be posted online at robanderson.ca and can be found on the ëAirdrie 24 Petitioní Facebook page.
ìAirdrie is growing at an explosive rate,î he said. ìWe are expecting 1,200 new births in the city this year alone. A 24-hour health care facility is no longer a ëwantí for our community; it is now a critical need,î Anderson said.
ìOur community has been working long and hard to secure these services using various innovative and cost-effective proposals, and we cannot wait any longer. Itís time to make this happen.î
The petition asks the Legislative Assembly to urge the government of Alberta to recognize the need for 24-hour health care services in Airdrie and work with community leaders and health professionals to provide the resources necessary for its prompt establishment.
When asked about the timing of the petition, Anderson said there was no particular reason he is bringing the issue up now and added, ìat some point we would have to do it.î He referenced the success of the petition that circulated in 2010, which identified the need for new schools in Airdrie and collected 3,000 signatures.
The Province announced three new schools for Airdrie in May of 2011.
Airdrieís urgent care facility currently has eight beds available between the hours of 8 a.m to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
When asked how the Town of Cochrane has received a 20-bed urgent care facility with a population just half of Airdrieís, Anderson couldnít identify a particular reason for AHS awarding the town with a larger facility.
The centre in Cochrane, which opened to the public on Feb. 15, 2011, is staffed by 125 health care providers. It saw about 15,000 visitors in its first two years, and that number could increase to 30,000 by its third year. The Cochrane facility is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mayor Peter Brown, chair of the Alberta Heath Foundation (AHF), expects Airdrieís local health care committee will have a business plan in place by early 2014 for a 24-hour facility.
ìWe have designed a building and we will have a business plan to present to the Province early next year,î Brown told the Airdrie City View on Oct. 31.
Brown says there are three or four locations being discussed for a new facility, which would be necessary as the current urgent care centre is not large enough to support the AHFís vision.
ìWeíre not quite far enough along yet that weíve decided on a location,î said Brown. ìWe need significant acreage because the building is designed to be expanded as we grow.î
