Last year the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services held a number of in-person engagement sessions, including here in Drumheller and Hanna, to allow the public to share what needs to change with the delivery of health care in our province.
With the success of the first round, the Government of Alberta are holding engagement sessions again this year, with one in Drumheller on Thursday, January 30th, one in Stettler, January 31st, and one in Hanna, April 2nd. Sarah Murrant, Executive Director System Refocusing Division with Alberta Health shares what the focus of these meetings will be. “Ever since the time that system refocusing was announced in November of 2023, the Government and Alberta’s Minister of Health, Adriana LaGrange, have been very committed to including the insights and perspectives from healthcare workforce, patients, caregivers, families and all Albertans. This second round of in person public engagements started just last week and we will be again delivering 65 in person sessions across every corner of the province. This week we’re really excited to be in Central Alberta, including in Stettler and Drumheller. We really want to remind individuals that this is a chance to learn more about why the system is being refocused, learn about the progress to date on what we have done, as well as to share perspectives, feedbacks and opportunities to really keep that conversation going with senior officials from the Department of Health and the Government of Alberta at large.”
Many counter that there are lack of opportunities to share their opinion, and Murrant notes that these sessions are and continue to provide a voice to residents about changes in health care delivery in Alberta. “We heard a lot of really meaningful input in the first round. We’ve published and released a report summarizing that feedback so that people can see what their feedback was across the entire province. That’s available online and throughout these sessions we’re hosting now. It’s an opportunity not only to hear what we have heard from Albertans, but as well to understand what actions have been taken, and for members of the public to start to understand, are those actions working? Where is there room for more to keep going? What are those most important things that they want, not only the Minister of Health to hear, but her her other ministers in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction, the Department of Seniors Community and Social Services, as well as the CE OS of those new provincial health agencies. Have been established or being established in the coming days and weeks.
Essentially this round of sessions is focused on how the new agencies under Alberta Health continue to move forward, comments Murrant. “Last year, when we were out, we really heard our Minister say we’ve established a framework and it was time for Albertans to help fill in those pieces of the framework, what a refocus system looks to them. Now we’re back. Recovery Alberta, one of the provincial health agencies, has been stood up and established. Primary Care Alberta has been legally established and will become operational on February 1. Acute Care Alberta will be legally established coming this week, again on (February) 1st, so it’s an opportunity to understand more about what the goals are of those agencies and what they’re going to be focused on and how that matters for people, right here in Drumheller, right here in Stettler, and every community across the province.”
There is still an opportunity to register for the sessions in Drumheller on Thursday, January 30th from 12 PM to 2 PM, in Stettler on Friday, January 31st from 3 PM to 5 PM, and in Hanna on Wednesday, April 2nd from 4 PM to 6 PM. To register and learn more about the changes to healthcare in Alberta, visit the Government of Alberta website.
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