David Swann: Blog

Dr. David Swann is the elected member of the Alberta Legislature for Calgary Mountain View and the Liberal critic for the Health and Wellness, Human Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Aboriginal Relations.

David Swann: Blog - Dr. David Swann is the elected member of the Alberta Legislature for Calgary Mountain View and the Liberal critic for the Health and Wellness, Human Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Aboriginal Relations.

Category Archives: Health Care

A doctor’s letter to his patients: The sad reality of health care in Alberta

Health care has long been a topic of great concern, discussion and interest in this province, and in fact throughout Canada. Recently, the CBC announced their Rate My Hospital project, which ranks Canadian hospitals on criteria such as mortality after surgery, nursing sensitivity for both surgical and medical patients, and readmission. The tool also enables the public to rank their hospitals on areas of respect, communication, timeliness and cleanliness.

With a flurry of health care related conversations taking place in the Legislature, in the media and in our communities- emergency room wait times, current negotiations between the Alberta Medical Association and the Alberta government, queue jumping and more—I want to draw your attention to an excellent piece of writing found in The Edmonton Journal. A doctor’s letter to his patients outlines the myriad concerns doctors, and patients, have about the state of health care under this PC government.

Dr. Mark Ewanchuk, an assistant clinical professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the University of Alberta, writes:

The Alberta government is deceiving you about our province’s health-care system. It is trying to convince you that it, and it alone, knows how best to plan, manage and deliver health care; and that it is able to do so without the input and expertise of those of us on the front lines who actually deliver care.

Further, the government is seeking to destroy the efforts of a multitude of individuals who have been struggling to redefine and re-innovate how your health care is delivered since the last time a Progressive Conservative government decimated health care…It’s the reason you can only obtain proper ophthalmology care at one of our five city hospitals (Royal Alexandra). Or why Edmonton’s busiest obstetrical centre for babies and women (Grey Nuns) has no pediatric services for children. Or why our busiest neonatal and pediatric centre for babies and children (The Stollery) has no women’s medicine. Or why our vascular centre (Grey Nuns) has no trauma services. Or why our busiest trauma centre (University of Alberta) has no vascular surgery program. Or why our thoracic centre (Royal Alexandra) has no cardiac surgery or bypass capability.

I encourage you to read the complete letter and, if you feel as strongly as I do about the sorry state of health care in our province, I ask you to take action: write your MLA and urge them to 1. Listen to front-line health professionals to learn about what is needed; 2. Invest in proven community care (Primary Care Networks) before expanding the experiments in Family Care Centers; 3. Stop the coercion in negotiations and establish a fair and respectful process for negotiation; and 4. Settle an agreement and restore stability to our healthcare system for the benefit of all.

 

What Earth Hour means to Albertans

Today marks the 17th annual Earth Hour, a global initiative that sees individuals and organizations turn off their lights for one hour in a mass movement to bring awareness and consideration to our energy consumption. Originating in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, the inaugural Earth Hour saw 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses go dark. By the following year, Earth Hour was marked by upwards of 50 million people across 371 cities and towns around the world, and participation has only continued to increase in the years since.

Recently, I hosted a public forum on the topic of coal-fired electricity in Alberta, Coal-fired Alberta: Cheap energy or clean air? The panel discussion consisted of industry experts and concerned citizens from a variety of backgrounds, each speaking to the various health, environmental and economic implications related to the continued use of coal-fired energy plants in Alberta.

It comes as a surprise to many that today 65% of Alberta’s electrical power is generated through the burning of coal and that coal usage in Alberta is greater than that in the rest of Canada combined. In addition to the myriad environmental consequences, the health concerns related to our continued dependence on coal are staggering—for instance, diagnoses of Asthma and other respiratory ailments across the country have increased significantly over the past 30 years.

The oft-referenced “Think global, act local” will resonate deeply with many Albertans this evening. When you turn your lights out to observe Earth Hour, I ask you to truly consider what you’re contributing as individuals, communities and organizations. Earth Hour marks an opportunity to not only bring awareness to our global consumption of energy and what this means for our planet, but to consider locally where our electricity in comes from—the burning of coal—and the numerous health and environmental consequences this brings. We have a number of viable alternatives to coal in Alberta, including natural gas and a variety of renewable energy options. And there is a host of energy conservation methods we can employ to minimize our carbon footprint.

If you feel as strongly as I do about the need to reduce Alberta’s reliance on coal, I encourage you to take action by urging your MLA to reject the 5- to 10-year extension the government has given to many coal-fired energy plants in Alberta that have reached their end-of-life. This evening, when our lights are off, it may be that we see the repercussions of our action/inaction most clearly.

 

Join the Call for a Public Health Inquiry

For two months, I have been calling for an inquiry into problems within the health care system. This session of the legislature it seems like another doctor comes forward complaining of intimidation by Alberta Health Services or the regional board that preceded it.

The government bent already and called a Health Quality Council (HQCA) investigation into cases of compromised ER care and possible cases of delayed cancer care. The HQCA review, which reports directly to the Minister of Health as opposed to the Legislature or people of Alberta, is meant to investigate wait times and issues of patient care but are ill-equipped to investigate the intimidation of healthcare professionals. The reason for this is that the HQCA is unable to subpoena witnesses or financial records and cannot does not provide protection for doctors to reveal details that have been sealed within non-disclosure agreements.

Our health care workers are among the best in the country and deserve an opportunity to testify and make public any intimidation from AHS or from the government they have suffered without fear of retribution.

The Alberta Liberal Caucus and I will continue to call for this inquiry until one is called. We are not the only group who sees this inquiry as the only way to move forward. The Alberta Medical Association, which represents over 6500 doctors and 3500 retired doctors, students and residents, have now called for the same. Just this week, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, which represents 21000 allied health professionals, has also called for a public inquiry.

Please write to or e-mail the Premier (premier@gov.ab.ca) and Health Minister (edmonton.millcreek@assembly.ab.ca) and copy my office (Calgary.mountainview@assembly.ab.ca). It will take letters such as yours to save our health system by calling a public inquiry. Our health workers need to be free from fear and intimidation if they are to be able to deliver the quality of care that Albertans need and deserve.

Legislature Review

The Alberta Liberal Caucus has enjoyed several victories in the legislature this session.

Healthcare dominated the fall session of the legislature, led by our call for a much needed emergency debate on healthcare. The government, continuing to be out of touch with issues of importance to Albertans, limited debate to 75 minutes. It was only after Dr. Sherman was kicked out of the PC caucus for speaking his mind and his proposal of an amendment to Bill 17 that enabled the Liberal Caucus to push for adequate debate. Debate lasted 25 hours, none of which the Premier chose to attend. With Albertans waiting 18 hours in emergency rooms for care, the Premier showed disinterest and contempt towards Albertans accessing the healthcare system and to medical staff who are working diligently to make a broken system function.

The Alberta government backed off from park legislation. The proposed bill put too much power into the hands of the minister. Without rules backed by legislation, the door was left open for more development in Alberta’s parks. Local and national conservation groups have campaigned against Bill 29 since it was tabled on November 4th. They called it one of the worst pieces of conservation legislation to come forward anywhere in Canada.

Our efforts helped kill the bill. The entire Liberal caucus opposed the bill and Tourism, Parks and Recreation Critic Harry Chase presented letter after letter from concerned Albertans who opposed the bill. This public backlash along with continued efforts forced the government’s hand. The bill was withdrawn.

The Alberta Liberal Caucus released two major policies during the fall session. One policy focused on the environment and the other focused on the crisis we are facing in healthcare. The environmental policy provides a strong balance between maintaining Alberta’s natural beauty while not compromising economic development. The health policy provides real world solutions and a concrete plan towards solving the ER crisis and ensuring that Albertans are never put into this situation again.

This contrasts with the government, which has announced and re-announced the same plans, with no real action ever taken. This government has a fixation on central control of all decisions across the province in healthcare delivery. This is a major part of the bottleneck that needs to be opened up to more regional control and decision-making. I am continuing to push for changes that will improve the regional delivery system. I have no confidence that this government understands how to improve the effectiveness of our services, and more and more Albertans and health professionals are saying the same thing. A poll done before Duckett’s dismissal and the ER crisis revealed less than 25% confidence in the government’s ability to manage the healthcare system. It is time for Albertans to become more involved in political change for Alberta. There’s a better way.

I am very interested in hearing your feedback on both the environment and healthcare policies. Please read them here:

Health Policy
Environment Policy

Get in touch with us via e-mail at: calgary.mountainview@assembly.ab.ca
Via phone at 403-216-5445
Twitter
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The ER Crisis

Recent days in the legislature have focused on health care, and rightly so. We are facing a longstanding crisis in the area of Emergency Rooms. The current system is making the lives of our doctors, nurses, and medical staff extremely stressful. Medical staff has lost confidence in the government and AHS’s ability to run the health system adequately. Obviously this problem does not just affect physicians and medical practitioners. This very real emergency has caused additional injury and even the deaths of Albertans seeking out medical care.

Imagine waiting an average of 18 hours with an injury in emergency to be seen along with a senior experiencing chest pains, a young woman with bleeding, an intoxicated man, and a family grieving the death of a loved one. This is a daily experience for many of our ER’s in the larger centers and cannot be allowed to go on.

We keep hearing that the Health minister has a plan to tackle ER wait times and other crises being faced in the health sector. We never hear any specifics beyond the shell game being played with hospital beds and staff. We hear about 5 year funding commitments but no targets are set to show that this money is delivering results and is being well spent. How can we believe in our health system if the government does not reveal timely, accurate numbers?

We are now in one of the highest usage seasons for our Emergency Rooms. We must provide front-line staff with adequate support to get them through the times of increased stress. This government has failed to properly support frontline medical staff. The Alberta Liberal Caucus has a plan to tackle this issue and solve these problems. Please visit here to view our plan.

Beginning a New Session in Legislature

The Legislative Assembly is set to begin Thursday, February 4th at 3pm. This is an exciting year of opportunities for the Alberta Liberal Caucus. As your MLA, and the Leader of the Official Opposition, I have heard from Albertans across the province that simply want common sense in our government!

We’re looking for a clear plan from the Stelmach administration. Where is a plan for dealing with serious problems in our economy, our energy sector, public services, education and health care?

Here’s what the Official Opposition will be focusing on during this session, as we roll out new policy on economy, healthcare and the environment:

Strengthening the Economy- Albertans have the right to expect responsible planning and disciplined spending, while protecting our basic human services. It’s time that this government was held accountable for decisions that have slowed our economic recovery and threatened our future stability.

I will work hard to see that the diversification of Alberta’s economy and energy plan remains a priority, while focusing on increasing the success of the oil and gas industry in this province on multiple stakeholder levels. The Alberta Liberal Caucus will be following up on Dave Taylor’s well-received policy on the oil and gas industry, launched last week. If you would like to read more about our new oil and gas policy for Alberta, please click here

Revitalizing Healthcare - It’s time to go BACK TO BASICS. Every Albertan deserves a family doctor, and all seniors in this province deserve quality affordable long-term care.

The Lieutenant (Health Minister) has changed, but the General (Mr Stelmach) remains the same. I’m afraid that we will see more serious problems in people’s ability to receive timely care from a health professional – including prevention.

Protecting Social Services – In these difficult economic times it is especially important that social services remain available for our society’s most vulnerable persons. Persons with developmental disability and their care-givers are reasonably upset by threats to reduce basic services, safety and health.

The Alberta Liberal Caucus has long challenged the Alberta government to provide more funding for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) support programs. We deeply disagree with the recent decision to force $6 million in cuts. It demonstrates this government’s willingness to sacrifice vital services for the bottom line.

Defending Education – A large part of my job is bringing forward the issues and concerns of my constituents – I have heard from students, parents, teachers, and trustees from within the constituency and across this province who are all concerned with impending funding cuts to the education system.

Education is the most basic investment we can make in our economic and social wellbeing. All students have the right to receive the best possible education. As Alberta’s Official Opposition, the Alberta Liberal Caucus will continue to challenge the Stelmach Administration to adequately fund the education of Alberta’s children, both K-12 and post-secondary.

In a time when there is so much wasteful government spending, there’s no justification to slash public health care, public education or crucially important programs, like those serving people with developmental disabilities. To read a listing of alternative cuts that an Alberta Liberal government would make, click here. We are interested in your thoughts on our proposal.

I want to hear from you and your ideas on how to make this great province of ours greater for all Albertans. Please contact me at: calgary.mountainview@assembly.ab.ca

David

Liepertmustgo.ca Lives On

The Alberta Liberal Caucus’ website, liepertmustgo.ca, continues to attract over 200 visits per day and has now received close to 1000 submissions from Albertans who are sharing their experiences with Alberta Health Services under the current Minister.

The Liberal Caucus has appealed last week’s order by the Legislature Assembly Office to take down the site, as I consider it our job as Alberta’s Official Opposition to help Albertans speak out on the issues of concern and to amplify their voices. I believe passionately in the power of voices united.

What we’ve heard is very concerning. I’ve included a few quotes from stories we’ve received below.

We’re not asking for Ron Liepert to be removed as MLA, only as Health Minister. This is an issue of policy, not personality.

With the recent announcement of an impending cabinet shuffle, we will soon find out if Ed is listening.

Albertans deserve better – and will get it if they persist.

David

Visit liepertmustgo.ca

Excerpts taken from liepertmustgo.ca:

“I am a medical Resident who works in Calgary. I have seen firsthand the devastation the health reforms and mismanagement […] While on ICU, we had a patient who had been waiting for transfer to the ward for so long that he was actually ready for discharge from ICU. Only he needed 3 additional days of ORAL antibiotics. We tried to give him a script for the drugs, but being homeless, he could not afford to fill the prescription. The inpatient pharmacy is now restricted in terms of giving meds to patients at discharge (ie. they can dispense one day’s worth, but not more – because of budget cuts). So this gentleman, with no medical bed (only an ICU bed) was required to stay in ICU for 3 additional days, because the hospital would not give him $25 of antibiotics (The Math: 3x $2000/day ICU stay = $6000 cost, because we can’t give him $25 of free antibiotics)”

“My mother (68 years old) was on the waiting list for a routine colonoscopy for two years before she was called for an appointment. The terrible thing about this situation was that she was diagnosed with colon cancer before she was able to get the colonoscopy.”

“I used to work as an RN in Alberta. I saw more and more RNs on my unit being replaced by LPNs. It was getting so dangerous for the patients that I had to leave; I couldn’t work in an environment where money was more important than patient safety and their lives. The LPNs were nowhere near knowledgeable or competent enough to deal with the high acuity of the patients. None of them were

My thoughts on H1N1.

Pandemic influenza is here but should not cause panic. It is similar to seasonal influenza and personal hygiene can prevent much disease.  High risk individuals must be given first access to the vaccine. Then others should be vaccinated to reduce spread.

 

As line-ups continue across the province today, I am hearing from many concerned Albertans about the negligence, lack of planning and shortage of resources around this important vaccination campaign.

 

I’ve heard from parents, who are worried for their young children and frustrated by the hours of waiting imposed on their families.

 

I’ve heard from seniors with chronic disease, many with disabilities, who are not able to line up for hours due to their conditions. These are the very people most at risk and most likely to benefit from the vaccine!

 

I’ve heard from pharmacists who are inundated with phone calls after the Minister’s announcement that 400 pharmacist’s will be available to administer the vaccine shortly.  These pharmacists have not been given any prior information and are frustrated that they cannot answer the questions being asked.

 

Many people have suggestions about how to make positive changes to the vaccination campaign, and I would like to acknowledge their efforts to make a bad situation better for everyone.

 

Bed closures in hospitals and the cutting of essential front line health care staff will certainly add to the pressures in hospitals, especially intensive care units, where official predictions are for 600 during this pandemic.  

 

We’ve had months to plan, and communicate yet the delivery is a mess.

 

In my opinion we must do the following:

 

1.      Open vaccine clinics immediately and give whatever vaccine exists to the highest risk people.

 

2.      Ensure that all vaccine available now is used ONLY for high -risk individuals – young children, pregnant women, aboriginal people and people with a chronic disease. This should have been the decision from the outset.

 

3.      Get the resources and staffing to get on with the job.

 

4.      Invite all available health professionals, including students and retired, to assist.

  

5.      Expand the staffing to hospitals to ensure that patients are properly treated and moved quickly to the service appropriate for their condition.

Mr. Lierpert should go.

As leader of the Official Opposition, I’m calling on Ron Liepert to resign, or be fired.

 

Thousands of high-risk Albertans who should be inoculated against H1N1 have not had access to the potentially life-saving vaccine. After days of six-hour line-ups and inconsistent messages from both the Premier and the Health minister, the Stelmach administration abruptly shut down all of the immunization clinics on Halloween night.

 

The first duty of a responsible government is to protect its citizens. The Premier’s incoherent response to a serious public health problem is putting our entire population at risk.  Mr. Liepert has shown he’s not up to the challenge, and if he can’t handle a province wide flu clinic, how can he manage a complex province wide health system? He should be replaced immediately.