Thread by @Hell_Berta

From Valley Medical Clinic in Strathmore, Alberta.

Dear Patients of Valley Medical

As you may have heard, the government of Alberta has decided to terminate the Alberta Health contract with doctors, effective March 31st.

They have also decided to implement new changes to how healthcare is delivered starting April 1st.

These changes have been fought by Alberta doctors and the Alberta Medical Association since they were proposed in December.

Unfortunately for Albertans, the government decided to stop mediation between themselves and the AMA on February 14th.

There will be significant changes in the way Albertans receive healthcare as a direct result of these cuts.

A poll of physicians from across the province suggests as many as 30% plan on moving away from Alberta once these cuts are implemented Today it was announced that the University of Calgary Medicine program was unable to fill 20 out of 61 spots it has 2 train Family Doctors.

A recent letter by ER physicians in Calgary to the Health Minister urging him to reconsider the cuts was signed by one hundred and twenty physicians.

The most disappointing fact about these cuts is that they unfairly target patients who require more time, elderly patients, patients with mental health problems and homeless patients.

The main aspects of the changes to healthcare that will affect patients are as follows:

1. Drivers medicals for patients over 75 will no longer be covered by Alberta Health. If you require a Drivers Medical in the next 6 months, please book one with your doctor prior to March 31st.

2. Appointments with your doctor may be shorter, and you may only be able to address one issue per visit

3. There will be cuts to “on-call” physician programs, both in rural areas and in urban centers. This will result in worse access to rural anesthesia, obstetrics and potentially longer wait times for surgeries, longer wait times in ER and longer stays in hospital.

4. We anticipate that recruitment of physicians to Strathmore in the future will be very difficult due to these changes. We are already aware of 2 physicians who were going to practice in a rural Alberta town, who have now decided to stay in Ontario and BC.

As a result of these changes, we ask for your patience in the coming months. We will continue to fight for our patients and advocate on your behalf. We would appreciate your help with this; you can contact your MLA or the health minister with any concerns.

Hon. Leela Aheer (403)-962-0126
Email: [e-mail]

Hon. Tyler Shandro (Health Minister)
Email: [e-mail]

@LeelaAheer @shandro @jkenney @RachelNotley @SPhillipsAB @shoffmanAB @UnitedNurses @Alberta_UCP @albertaNDP @AlbertaLiberals @GreenPartyAB

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