Public Health Care & Mental Health
TREAT HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WITH RESPECT
I am frequently dismayed by how the UCP government continues to disrespect, undermine and devalue our frontline health workers. Their efforts to cut compensation to doctors and nurses now continue into negotiations with other health professionals. Meanwhile, Camrose and other communities in our riding are suffering from massive nursing shortages and a lack of family doctors. This toxic relationship is bad for our province, and needs a reset that an NDP government can provide.
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS REAL ACTION & FUNDING
The UCP government has failed to take mental health seriously. There is a real mental health crisis in our province and yet services remain underfunded, unavailable, and inaccessible for many people. Private health insurance benefits are rarely adequate, and are not universal. A proper Provincial strategy to improve public mental health services is required, along with large-scale, long-term funding.
One practical support still waiting for UCP approval is the regulation and credentialing of counselling services in Alberta. The regulations are ready and the College is ready to be opened – why is the UCP failing to act?
INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH CARE
Experiments in private surgical clinics in other jurisdictions like Saskatchewan have proven to have no long-term benefit in terms of wait times, while transferring wealth out of our communities to wealthy owners and shareholders. The same is happening by contracting out hospital support staff. We need to invest in our public health system to ensure the best level of care for all Albertans, not just the wealthy.
Public health care is an investment, not an expense. Healthy people and communities are the foundation of a productive, resilient and innovative economy.
BRING BACK THE AUGUSTANA NURSING PROGRAM
The UCP elimination of the nursing program at Augustana is one of the causes of our nursing shortage in Camrose. A rural-focused nursing program is just what is needed to attract and retain nurses in our community, and I will work to bring it back.
YOUR IDEAS?
How would you like to see our Provincial government strengthen our health care system, and mental health in particular?