Luanne Metz (left) and Janet Eremenko at the NDP Healthcare town hall at the Public Library Thursday. News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Residents had the opportunity to discuss their concerns regarding the current state of healthcare in the province with NDP critics on Thursday.
The town hall, held in the theatre of the Medicine Hat Public Library, hosted Dr. Luanne Metz, NDP Critic for Health, and Janet Eremenko, NDP Mental Health & Addictions Critic.
A recurring concern that was expressed by both the critics and residents alike was a growing concern that mental health would become less of a priority following the upcoming changes to Alberta Health Services and the creation of Recovery Alberta.
“I think first and foremost, let’s make sure that we don’t forget that mental health and our mental well being is indeed health care,” said Eremenko. “If you struggle from an addiction, whether it be opioids or gambling or alcohol, that too deserves a health care response. And I don’t think that’s what we’re seeing right now from this government.”
Eremenko spoke on the importance of keeping mental health as a thread that runs through all aspects of care, something that Metz added on to, stating that “there is nowhere [else] in the world where any evidence based health system would separate mental health.”
Emerenko continued to speak on a notable lack of accessible psychiatrists, which pushes more and more Albertans into seeking cost-prohibitive privatized care, which can remain out of reach even with workplace benefits covering some of the costs.
Metz also shared her current priorities, which addressed a lack of staff in healthcare, and a lack of coordination which creates gaps and duplications she said that only compound the issue.
“What do we have a healthcare system for? I mean, it’s really here, the system. Part of it is that it’s not up to individuals and a market to exist or not at the whim of whoever is going to provide some service,” said Metz. “We really need a coordinated healthcare system that’s going to support people both in prevention and providing the health care that we need.”
Metz spoke on the importance of re-building trust between healthcare workers and the government through open dialogue and transparency, as it is hard to recruit to a workforce that is largely burnt out and not open to new approaches due to exhaustion.
“We need to plan for it. We need to build bridges, have trust, and we need to listen to the people within the workforce,” said Metz. “Now the system really needs to listen to local issues, but we need to do it in a way that we’re not creating special deals that are different all over the place, because that also crashes the system.”
The message that both critics wanted to leave attendees with was one of hope, and that while changes may take time in the event that the NDP takes government in the next election, they will have short-term improvements to help healthcare for Albertans become more accessible, regardless of what category it falls under.
