350 acute-care beds closing, union leader says

Alberta Health Services is planning to close 350 acute-care beds in Edmonton and Calgary over the next three years, according to Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta.

Smith, along with representatives of other public-sector unions, got the news Tuesday from officials with Alberta Health Services, the province's single health-care board.

"What they said is that they have determined that there are 350 people in acute-care beds between Edmonton and Calgary that should not be in acute-care beds and that as those people are moved, the beds will be closed," she said.

The province will create 800 community-care places to accommodate these patients, which will include options like home care and assisted living, Smith said.

But in the conference call, union representatives received no indication how many jobs could be lost.

"We asked for specifics in terms of impact. And they don't have specifics to give us," she said. "The reality is if you're reducing your acute-care capacity by 350 beds, there are staff that are part of that provision of services that aren't going to be there."

Alberta Health Services plans to make a formal announcement about the bed closures Wednesday. A spokesperson said while the figure of 800 community-care spaces is accurate, the bed closure number isn't as high as Smith suggests.

In the last few months, the board has been working on a plan to reduce a deficit which was at $1.3 billion at the start of the fiscal year.

Details have been scarce about what cost-cutting measure the board plans to take.

Last month, board president and CEO Stephen Duckett said AHS would soon be rolling out a voluntary retirement plan for qualified staff. The board has also saved money by streamlining its procurement process, Duckett said.

While the extra spaces in community care come as great news, the corresponding closure of beds is not, Smith said.

"Its not going to close or deal with any of those over-capacity stretchers in hallways and putting three people in two-patient rooms in Edmonton and Calgary."

The number also doesn't include the acute-care psychiatric beds which will be closed at Alberta Hospital, Smith said.  While Alberta Health Services has never put a number on how many beds will be closed, estimates put it at about 150.