NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE The future of linen and laundry services at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital is once again in question as Alberta Health Services looks to eliminate 235 jobs in these hospital departments across the province.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Friends of Medicare revealed that AHS is looking to eliminate 235 laundry staff, and this once again raises the question of a possible closure of facilities at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.
Sandra Azocar, executive director, says the UCP government’s agenda is to contract out the work, turning health care into a “for-profit” venture.
“Also during the run-up to the April election, Kenney pledged that if elected he would save the province $200 million by cancelling a plan to upgrade Alberta Health Service laundry facilities and contract that work out instead,” said Azocar.
AHS letters to union indicate 5,100 jobs will be lost across the province. This will include 750 RNs, 70 pharmacy positions, 850 lab positions, up to 2,000 housekeepers, 350 administration support, 250 general support staff, 235 laundry and linen operations staff, 200 auxiliary nursing positions such as LPNs (licensed practical nurses) and health-care aides, 200 home care staff and 165 food service staff.
Drew Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, says the government has to address the cost of health in Alberta.
“I think the government needs to focus on making sure that managers managing managers are where the changes are made,” said Barnes.
In January 2018 there was talk of sending laundry from MHRH to Lethbridge’s Chinook Regional Hospital for processing.
The response from the AHS south zone’s office in Lethbridge at the time was that it was “being evaluated and reviewed to assess aging equipment and infrastructure issues in several communities. A final decision on how to achieve these goals is yet to be reached,” said a statement.
At the time Barnes said he felt centralizing services limits local decision making and will lead to inferior services.
In August 2016 MHRH was singled out as “one of the most troublesome (laundry) facilities,” with a four-and-a-half month shutdown of the ironing system, a sewer collapse, power supply issues and a roof leak. Its aging laundry infrastructure was acknowledged by south zone management.
Azocar questions why regular maintenance has not been carried out to ensure the laundry equipment is working in optimal condition and replaced as required.
MHRH’s laundry department in 2016 had a staff of 25 people, made up of full-time and part-time positions and 12 casual staff.
Approximately 1.2 million kilograms of laundry is processed every year at MHRH, providing linen services to Brooks, Bassano and Bow Island hospitals, some seniors’ residences in Medicine Hat, Home Care and the residential detoxification centre, according to information supplied by AHS.
