A fast-tracked review of helicopter emergency services is complete but will not be made public.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
A fast-tracked review of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) has been submitted to Health Minister Tyler Shandro but is not being made public.
When the fate of HALO hung in the balance this spring due to lack of funding, Alberta Health said it would fast-track the HEMS review to gain an understanding of funding requirements.
On May 16, a spokesperson for Shandro provided an emailed statement confirming it had been in contact with HALO and said it was “fast-tracking a review of province-wide helicopter ambulance services.”
Later that month, May 26, Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes said he’d asked for interim funding for HALO until the “end of September when an official review is due to be complete.”
Barnes expressed concern that the review is in Shandro’s hands but will not be released. He says it has been reviewed and finalized for more than a year.
A spokesperson for Shandro’s office provided an emailed statement on Friday.
“A preliminary HEMS review received by the Minister’s Office did not provide sufficient detail or clarity regarding the optimal model of HEMS in Alberta compared to patient need. We have instructed AHS (Alberta Health Services) to provide a more substantive report. We expect that in early 2021.”
Barnes says that HALO and Albertans have been waiting long enough for funding in order for HALO to continue to provide helicopter ambulance services in S.E. Alberta.
“The time is now for action and fairness. Years of study have only prolonged the inequity southeast Albertans face having to raise virtually the entire cost of emergency helicopter service, while the rest of Alberta is taxpayer supported,” said Barnes.
He has asked the government to immediately transfer $1.3 million to HALO of the $7 million allocated to STARS annually.
In May HALO announced it would likely have to close in July due to lack of funds. Fundraising activities avoided the need to close at that stage but there is still no ongoing funding from Alberta Health.
