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Media Release

Swift Current MLA Brad Wall has written a letter to Health Minister Pat Atkinson expressing concern over recent local health care developments that in<dude more uncertainty for front line health care workers about their Jobs and the closure of acute and long term care beds.

"TheFyke Commission is set to report in March, on the future of health care in our
province but in the meantime the Department has approved a local budget that is
definitely going to negatively affect health care inSwift Current and area." Wall said.
"This is the same NDP government that has put every major health-related decision o
hold until Ken Fyke completes his review of our health care system. And so I asked the
Minister why these major changes are going ahead in the Swift Current Health District
before we have heard from Mr. Fyke."

Wall said local health care workers are already dealing with enough stress without having to worry about the future of their employment. He said both staff and constituents have been raising a number of concerns about this uncertainty, as well as the permanent closure of 14 beds on 2nd West at the Swift Current Regional Hospital and the reduction of long-term care beds at the Palliser Regional Care Centre.

"In the last number of weeks I have had numerous calls and visits from staff and family members of long-term and acute care patients who are very concerned." said Wall. a! have written to Minister Atkinson asking her to do what she can to put these developments on hold at least until Fyke has reported."

"Mr. Fyke's report could result in a number of changes ranging from the number of
health districts there are in the province to the confirmation that we are to be a major
regional centre." Wall continued. "Why would the NDP government stand by and do
nothing about major changes in Swift Current that will effect front line staff, acute care
and the availability of long-term care for seniors, prior to hearing what Mr. Fyke has to
say in his report and determining what that could mean for Swift Current and area?"

This latest long-term care concerns in Swift Current come only months after Wall's letter to the same Minister after his visit this summer to the Swift Current Care Centre. During a summer heat wave, seniors there were suffering through 30 degree plus heat inside the facility."Now they have approved a local budget the net result of which will be fewer long-term care beds for seniors. This is no way to treat the people who build our community." he concluded.

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