Alberta to investigate ER cases, cancer surgeries

Alberta's Health Quality Council will investigate claims of indequate cancer surgery and emergency room wait times, Premier Ed Stelmach announced Thursday.

"I am drawing a line and I am asking the minister of health and wellness to clear the air," Stelmach told reporters after making an announcement in the Alberta legislature.

"The minister will be directing the Health Quality Council of Alberta to take a thorough look at wait times for emergency and cancer care services."

The Health Quality Council will review 322 emergency room cases between 2006 and 2010 where patients are alleged to have received inadequate care.

The investigation will also look at allegations made by Independent MLA Raj Sherman that 250 lung cancer patients died while waiting for surgery in the early part of the last decade.

The review will be done behind closed doors and Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said doctors will be granted the immunity opposition MLAs have been calling for.

In a news conference thursday afternoon, Stelmach slammed MLAs for making what he called "reckless statements" in the house that have caused distress to ordinary Albertans.  

"We need to stop playing games, and anyone with information about financial irregularities or improper care should go to the auditor general or to the College of Physicians and Surgeons," Stelmach said.

While the review falls short of a public inquiry, Liberal Leader David Swann says it is a start.

"We started in last fall, of course, on these issues, and the premier has known about these since 2008 so this is really a scandal that these 322 cases have been buried and only in the last few months have begun to be investigated," Swann said.