Health-care workers divided on review of bed closures

The Alberta government's decision to reconsider the closure of about 350 acute-care beds in Calgary and Edmonton has divided health-care professionals.

The decision to close the beds was made last fall by Ron Leipert, the former health minister, in an attempt to save the health-care system $50 million a year.

Reviewing the decision might give the health-care system time to catch its breath and come up with a realistic long-term plan, said Karen Craik, spokeswoman for the United Nurses of Alberta.

However, Linda Slocombe, head of the Calgary and Area Physician's Association, said waffling over the bed closures has made it difficult for nurses to do their jobs.

"It's very hard for all the health-care professionals, for all the administrators, for the doctors [and] for the patients to not know what is going to happen," Slocombe said. "Are hospital beds going to close? Are hospital beds going to be open? We've been operating under that scenario for a long time now."

'Circumstances are much different than five months ago. There will be some increases in health care because there have to be. And that, coupled with some savings, is what has created a little wiggle room.' — Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky

Ted Woynillowicz, spokesman for Alberta's Friends of Medicare, said the decision is a good start, but doesn't add any of the promised new hospital beds.

"There was a promise in the last election to have 600 more long-term care beds added to the existing 14,500 across this province," said Woynillowicz. "That promise was reneged."

"Alberta Health Services has one plan and now the Alberta government — specifically the new minister — is expressing a different plan," Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann said. "Still they all say the plan to review closing hospital beds is positive."

However, Alberta's health-care system lacks focus, Swann added.

"There is mass confusion about where the system is going and where the greatest pressures are," Swann said. "We have long-term care pressures. We have acute-care pressure."

'Wiggle room'

Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said potentially available funds in the province's upcoming budget led him to reconsider closing the beds.

"Circumstances are very different than five months ago," Zwodesky said. "There will be some increases in health care because there have to be. And that, coupled with some savings, is what has created a little wiggle room."

Stephen Duckett, president of Alberta Health Services, said better-than-expected savings are behind his decision to review the closures.

"Our other savings strategies are actually tracking ahead," Duckett said, "so if we have the opportunity to keep all those beds open, that will enable us to go further and quicker."

It is not known how much money will be available for the beds until the provincial budget is released on Feb. 9.