It was an up and down year for members of the Airdrie Health Foundation (AHF) as they continued to try to bring improved healthcare services to the residents of Airdrie.
It was an up and down year for members of the Airdrie Health Foundation (AHF) as they continued to try to bring improved healthcare services to the residents of Airdrie.
For AHF Chair Michelle Bates, changes in the ruling provincial government and the intractability of Alberta Health Services (AHS) to pay more than lip service to Airdrie's needs were a source of frustration in 2015.
“ The only thing that's changed, in my opinion, is that we've just gotten bigger and we need things to be better now,” she said.
“ Our goal even with this urgent care – even though it's too small, it's not adequate – we need to make it adequate. That's where the donors and the community can rally. Even though AHS isn't pulling their weight in our eyes, we can do that as a community if it's going to save lives.”
“ We're tired of talking; we need action,” Mayor Peter Brown added. “ We need a commitment in writing that we will be addressing this sooner, rather than later. It's great that AHS has gathered all this information but we are no longer a statistic.”
AHF was founded five years ago and is comprised of approximately 14 board members, officially becoming a foundation in October 2013. Its mandate is to raise funds to promote and support healthcare in Airdrie and surrounding communities through health education, programs and services.
Bates said despite her continuing frustrations, there were high points throughout the year.
“ We've done really good stuff like approving a handheld ultrasound for the Urgent Care Centre, which is very needed. I think that would be a big high for the community,” she said.
“ We just recently got two breast pumps for community health and we got some more iPads for speech therapy and some specialty recliner chairs for homecare. They need eight replaced and we are funding four. Being able to give back to the community? Amazing.”
The AHF also approved funding to purchase a fetal heart monitor for the Highland Primary Care Network's Low Risk Maternity/Women's Health Clinic in May.
Brown is a member of the AHF and shares in Bates' frustration.
“ I one hundred per cent agree with Michelle across the board, but what I want to say is that the community has really rallied around the foundation,” he said. “ Our funders, people's generosity has really put us in a position where we can support the community.”
One of those funders, Hugh Hamilton, and his family recently donated 10 acres of land to the AHF, which could be used to eventually build a health park.
“ It isn't in a new building – the goal of our group is to obviously have a health park here that supports Airdrie and the area – but the interim exciting stuff is that all the stuff (we're able to do) is not possible without the tremendous support we've had from the community,” Brown said.
For Brown, a low point in the year was when a $4 million plus commitment from the ruling Progressive Conservative Party to begin building a health park in Airdrie went out the window when the party was swept from power in May.
Since then, AHS has only committed to adding four spaces – three recliner chairs and a gurney – to the AUCC at a cost of $400,000 – work that was to start in September but has yet to begin. Brown said extra medical staff is not part of that commitment, putting a strain on existing staff.
Building a relationship with the new NDP government and Health Minister Sarah Hoffman means going back to the drawing board.
“ She's the first minister ever to tour our facility,” Brown said.
“ First minister ever to sit down and talk with 20 community members and spend time here. I think we now have the ear of someone who really understands us a little bit better. I think the challenge going forward will be the actionable items.”
Bates is clear in her position.
“ I can't take it anymore. Honestly, I couldn't take it then and I can't even tolerate it now,” she said.
“ There's been enough evidence-based material done. The city is firsthand showing and experiencing what is going on, and if this continues, in my opinion it falls on AHS when someone else dies or gets injured or the doctors can't do their job anymore. I understand money is an issue but spend your money correctly. My patience is gone.”
Brown said he believes the community will be key in changing healthcare in Airdrie.
“ I think the community, if they're not involved, they need to be involved. Write the health minister, write AHS. Get your voices heard.”
