Conservatives must be held accountable for damaging health system
For immediate release | February 22, 2012
Alberta's NDP Opposition leader Brian Mason says only a change of government can undo the damage to Alberta’s health system by the Conservatives."The Conservatives have had enough chances to improve our health system. Instead, they've ignored long-term care, created chaos with corporate-style management of health, and let down emergency patients in their time of need. Time is up for this Conservative government," Mason says.
Today's Health Quality Council report identifies severe issues with emergency wait times and doctor intimidation. But it does not delve into the role of Conservative politicians in the problems.
"We can and should make changes to the system to improve services. The NDP would work immediately to end the shortage of long term care beds that backs up our ERs, for example. But this Conservative government cannot be allowed to escape consequences for the mess they've made," Mason says.
"We need a clear commitment for a real public inquiry to identify the responsibilities for intimidation that are mentioned in this report, where political interference and the College of Physicians and Surgeons are clearly named."
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