Media Release
For Release May 30,2001
Wall Calls for Government Action on Local Health Concerns
Swift Current MLA Brad Wall once again raised local health care
concerns before members of the Legislative Assembly this week.
On Monday, Wall spoke to a motion regarding the legislative
standing committee on health care. 'There is still a shortage of
beds in Swift Current." Wall said in his speech. "We
still have long-term care patients taking up acute care... We
still have acute care patients being transferred up to maternity.
That's the situation today at the Swift Current Regional
Hospital."
Earlier this year. Wall wrote on behalf of constituents and health
care professionals to both the current Health Minister and the
previous Health Minister expressing grave concerns over the
situation in Swift Current. In his speech, he reminded the
government of those letters and the NDP government's reaction that
the problem could be attributed to a weekend outbreak of
bronchitis at the Swift Current Regional Hospital in March.
Wall's speech quoted local health care officials who confirmed
that no such bronchitis outbreak led to Swift Current health care
problems.
Wall also took the government to task for cutting off the hearing
with Ken Fyke, author of the Fyke Commission on Medicare at a
Legislative Committee hearing early in April.
"... and we waited patiently for our chance to put those
questions... not political questions, not contrived questions on
our part - questions from our nurses and doctors, Mr. Speaker...
.1 didn't get to ask one single question that the nurses in Swift
Current and the doctors had carefully offered for our
consideration.... I intended to ask those questions on their
behalf to Mr. Fyke, but the evenings proceedings were cut off, Mr.
Speaker, by the government."
Wall also called on the government to respond to the petitions he
has been presenting every day in the Legislature. Over 6000 people
have signed petitions calling on the government to carefully
consider Swift Current's request for a new regional hospital.
"Mr. Speaker, in order to help accommodate some of the
concerns being raised by our
physicians and our local chapter of SUN (Saskatchewan Union of
Nurses) we are calling
on this government to give what is due Swift Current, and that is
careful consideration of
its request for a new hospital. And that seems to be falling on
deaf ears in two successive
budgets. Rather, beds are being closed, Mr. Speaker."
For More Information
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