Richard Froese
South Peace News
The Town of High Prairie has become a partner with Big Lakes County to lobby the provincial government and Alberta Health Services for more and enhanced services in the region.
At its regular meeting Aug. 27, town council passed a motion to send a letter of support to Big Lakes in its efforts as described in a letter from Big Lakes Reeve Tyler Airth who requested support from High Prairie.
Big Lakes has been lobbying the Alberta government for several years for improved and added services at the new High Prairie Health Complex that opened in April 2017.
Councillor Therese Yacyshyn says it’s vital that the town back Big Lakes in its lead role to lobby for improved healthcare services.
“We need to keep pursuing this,” Yacyshyn says.
A helipad at the hospital is one of three priorities set by Big Lakes.
“Our main areas of concern we want to address are the lack of adequate helicopter support at the hospital, lack of cancer treatment availability and the lack of obstetrics coverage,” Airth says.
Big Lakes administration is drafting a letter to be delivered to Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, he says.
“We are looking for any input from our regional partners that should be included,” Airth says.
“I would also ask that with any input you wish to include, you would also endorse this letter (to LaGrange) on behalf of your area.
“We can make this a show of solidarity and they will finally start to listen.”
High Prairie council also added opening the operating room as another priority.
The operating room is also a concern of Big Lakes but was not listed in the top three in the request to High Prairie council.
“We ask for support on a key issue we are facing regionally regarding the lack of health care in our area” Airth states in the e-mail dated Aug. 22.
“Like many of our regional partners, Big Lakes County is at a loss in trying to understand the position of AHS, as well as the health ministry itself, including LaGrange, when it comes to the lack of medical services in our region,” Airth states.
“This is an issue that all of the residents of our area are experiencing and we need to work together to ensure our concerns are heard by the ministry.”
Letters of request from Airth were also sent to East Prairie Metis Settlement, Gift Lake Metis Settlement, Peavine Metis Settlement, Kapawe’no First Nation, Sucker Creek First Nation, Driftpile Cree Nation and Swan River First Nation.
Airth, three Big Lakes councillors and the CAO discussed the issues at a meeting March 18 with Yellowhead MLA Martin Long, parliamentary secretary for rural health.
The delegation was very discouraged by a letter from Long for not supporting their concerns.
In response, Airth starts the letter by stating that council is very frustrated by Long’s letter.
Residents need more and better healthcare services, the reeve says in his letter dated June 28.
“We strongly believe that these issues warrant immediate and thorough reconsideration,” Airth says.
“We urge you to recognize the gravity of these matters and their direct impact on the lives of our residents.
“Therefore, we are requesting a follow-up meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss these critical issues in detail and to explore tangible solutions that will address these pressing healthcare needs.”
The reeve invites Long to further work with council on the issues.
“We look forward to collaborating closely to significantly enhance critical health services available in our region,” Airth says to conclude the letter.