Alberta health minister to update health care re-haul Thursday morning

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Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, along with Alberta Health Services (AHS) CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos, are set to give an update on the UCP’s plan to re-haul the provincial health care system Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

The government has so far shared very few details about the massive re-organization that will see the provincial health authority stripped of most of its duties beyond acute care and continuing care.

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It announced last November it will dismantle AHS, and create four separate governing agencies for primary care, acute care, continuing care, and mental health and addiction, along with a ministry-led integration council.

Watch the news conference at 11:30 a.m. 

LaGrange and Mentzelopoulos are also expected to face questions about the treatment of a 62-year-old patient who was moved from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton to a Travelodge motel in Leduc, south of the city, instead of the long-term care facility that he expected. Paralyzed on his left side after a stroke, Blair Canniff uses a wheelchair. The details of his discharge were first reported by the CBC, who said after a week at the hotel, he was re-admitted to the hospital.

At a legislature committee Tuesday, LaGrange said the patient was housed by a non-profit provider, and after discussions with AHS, “that individual chose that particular site.”

A letter obtained by the Opposition NDP and released Wednesday indicates another patient was promised personal care from the same non-profit, Contentment Social Service Foundation.

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The letter says the agency is accepting applications for a supportive housing program at 5704 50 Street in Leduc but does not identify it as a motel.

LaGrange has so far declined to answer questions about how many patients being discharged from hospitals have been inappropriately moved to motels, but on Wednesday told reporters in the legislature the non-profit is not contracted with or accredited by AHS, Alberta Health, or Seniors, Community and Social Services.

Earlier this week, LaGrange insisted that AHS followed its proper discharge guidelines, but on Wednesday said the government was conducting a review of those procedures in light of the cases.

“This is concerning, and we are digging into it,” said LaGrange.

LaGrange said she was concerned the non-profit provider was not clear with the patient about where they were taking them, but referred questions about housing to Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon, who also referred specific questions about AHS discharge back to LaGrange.

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Nixon said the province’s Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee has been dispatched to investigate, but the non-profit has “no connection” to his ministry.

“We do not fund this organization. They are not a partner that we work with, and until I read about them in the newspaper, have never heard about them, and neither has anybody in my department,” said Nixon.

NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley was quick to say LaGrange’s ministry is responsible for AHS, comparing the back and forth between ministers to the Abbott and Costello Show.

“What’s even more concerning is that this kind of snake oil is being peddled inside of our hospitals to extremely vulnerable Albertans — Albertans who will suffer health consequences, whose lives will be put at risk,” said Notley, who added Premier Danielle Smith, who is currently in Houston, Texas on a government trip, needs to step in.

“This is a profound demonstration of utter incompetence by both ministers. Either they are lying, or they don’t deserve to be in their job, or because they’re lying, they don’t deserve to be in their job.”