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July 18th, 2002
Wall Disappointed Premier Not
Visiting Swift Current Hospital
Swift Current
MLA Brad Wall today expressed disappointment that Premier Lorne
Calvert’s visit to Swift Current this week doesn’t include a stop at
the Swift Current Regional Hospital.
“On Monday I
wrote to the Premier and offered to accompany him on a tour of our
hospital,” said Wall. “I’m disappointed that he is passing up this
opportunity to see first-hand why the community is asking the
government for its share of funding for a new regional facility.”
Wall noted that
the Premier has made Swift Current part of his ‘Dialogue with
Saskatchewan’ bus tour and it would have been a good opportunity for
the Premier and other government MLA’s to get an understanding of
one of the most important issues for Swift Current and area.
“Just last week
I was asked by concerned citizens to tour the hospital again to view
apparent mold problems, the lack of air conditioning on some floors
and the general state of disrepair that is apparently resulting in
frequent leaks caused by rain,” Wall said. “It doesn’t take a long
tour of the hospital to realize that the provincial government needs
to make its commitment to a new facility as soon as possible. It
would only take a very short time of the Premier’s schedule and a
first-hand look is the most effective way I can think of to make the
case for a new hospital for Swift Current and area.”
Wall pointed
out that various groups throughout the area including the city of
Swift Current have developed a proposal to raise the local share of
funding required for such a project and that this would be a good
chance for the Premier to view the need for a new hospital.
Wall also noted
that when asked about his tour in Swift Current, the Premier
indicated that the hospital issue would no doubt be discussed with
local officials while in the city.
“I guess it’s
always positive when we can get the Premier talking about this
issue, but the urgency involved should warrant a first-hand viewing
of the facility.”
While a tour of
the hospital would have helped to convince the government of the
need, Wall said that he would continue to try to find ways to draw
the government’s attention to the state of Swift Current’s health
care facilities.
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