It is the ever recently occurring topic of health care that has motivated me enough to write my first letter to the newspaper.
I am a registered nurse, and a recent meeting at work informed me that a second phase of budget cuts has been implemented by Alberta Health Services that will see the original three per cent cutbacks on our unit triple to nine per cent.
I am not aware of how many “phases” of budget cuts there will be; nor have I read anything about this in the public forum.
This leads me to believe that the ambush tactics of this government remain in full force and transparency continues to be lacking when it comes to the plan for health care.
As a frontline worker, it is scary to think what is going to happen to the quality of care patients will be receiving.
This nightmare is starting to become a reality.
In order to meet budget cuts, nurses have been forced to care for more patients than is safe in an acute care setting.
Forget about caring for the psychosocial needs of patients and families, regardless of whether or not they’ve just lost the use of their legs in a car accident or if they’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer.
There simply won’t be time to attend to those needs when the more imminent physical health of patients can barely be addressed.
I urge the public to take action before it is their health that is compromised by the dangerous changes this government has made and is continuing to make.
Anne Rice
Lacombe County