Health council lobbies for medical transport

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

The High Prairie and District Community Health Council is hoping their partnerships with the M.D. of Big Lakes, the Town of High Prairie and Peace Country Health will help support their cause. For the past five years, the council has been actively lobbying to gain some form of medical transportation system in the community. Nona Elliott, chair of the council, says her latest attempts to establish a program with the help of the province have been to no avail, however she hopes gaining support from the municipal governments will help. “The more voices we get, the bigger voice we will have,” says Elliott. Every year the 13 chairs for the health councils in the Peace Country Health region get together with the heads of PCH to discuss issues in the region and their communities. Elliott says transportation has proven to be one of the continuous issues. “Medical transportation is very important. There should be equal transportation available to those who need it,” explains Elliott. “There are so many people who can not make it to a specialist or medical appoints in other cities or towns because they can’t afford to travel, or don’t have any mode of transportation.” Elliott adds they have already gained support from all parties that are involved with medical services. “Through the physician retention council we even have the doctors on our side. They agree with us, there really isn’t anyone who is disagreeing with us except the provincial government,” says Elliott adding the support from PCH is abundant. On May 23, Elliott and member George Keay approached town council as well as sent a letter to the M.D. of Big Lakes. Elliott says they were well received and both parties are willing to lend support. “They have gone out of their way to help us on so many occasions, this issue is no different,” says Elliott. In recent correspondence with the health minister of Alberta, Elliott received another discouraging response. A letter from Health and Wellness Minister Dave Hancock states, “I appreciate the difficulties faced by many residents of rural Alberta in having to travel to get some of the medical services they require,” writes Hancock. “However, as noted in correspondence on this matter from the previous Minister of Health and Wellness, the Honourable Iris Evans, the Government of Alberta does not provide funding for the transportation of individuals seeking medical services.” Hancock adds health care is one of the biggest challenges for the provincial government, and Alberta spends more per capita on health care than any other province. Funding for PCH this year alone is $220 million, which is an average annual growth rate of 10.6 per cent since 2003-04. Elliott says the CHC continues to rally for the cause because it’s too important to let go. “There is no reason someone should have to hitchhike to medical appointments which is what some people do,” says Elliott. “I believe if we keeping asking they will eventually have to say yes. If we come up with the solution they will come up with the money.” Elliott says the CHC is also working with PCH to increase the efficiency and the usage of the TeleHealth program. Elliott says she believes if patients can perhaps contact specialist through this program it will save a lot of time for patients using medical services. “A lot of the time the first visit to a specialist is to simply set up an appointment for the actual procedure. This could be done through TeleHealth.” However medical transportation is not only the issue. Gina Brodrick, executive director of Marigold Enterprises, says people with disabilities just need transportation to move around town. “In the winter we have so many clients who can’t leave their houses because they are in wheelchairs. They can’t go get groceries or to the bank, having some form of transportation in the community not only for medical but also for every day use would definitely be a benefit.” Since its inception in 1999, the CHC has spent its time looking for ways they can make the community healthier.

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