Central Alberta MLAs say allegations of health-care queue jumping by friends of the provincial government are baseless.
Red Deer South MLA Cal Dallas said former Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett’s claims that political cronies were able to move up surgery wait lists or get expedited care is not backed up by any facts.
“I can tell you that were there any knowledge of this, it simply wouldn’t be tolerated by the premier or by caucus,” Dallas said on Wednesday.
“There is clearly no indication of any wrong doing here.”
During a speech at the University of Toronto in May, Duckett said he sent out a memo to stop queue jumping when he took over at Alberta Health Services in 2009.
Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Luke Ouellette said he didn’t know of any queue jumping and was amazed by the accusation that MLAs were helping patients get quicker health care. “The only person that can declare that you need to be in faster, that it’s an emergency, is a doctor,” said Ouellette, who is also minister of Transportation.
Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Alison Redford wants an judicial inquiry into the allegations. And leadership candidate Rick Orman said on Wednesday that the minister of Health and Wellness should direct the Health Quality Council of Alberta to investigate the allegations.
Dallas said judicial inquiries are for when there is evidence of criminal allegations.
The chance of anyone coming forward with proof is unlikely, Dallas said.
“I wouldn’t hold your breath.”
Both Dallas and Ouellette said Health Quality Council of Alberta would be capable of investigating if necessary.
“I think the Health Quality Council can do that and if they find anything wrong, that’s when somebody else should step in,” Ouellette said.
The council is an independent organization legislated under the Regional Health Authorities Act to gather and analyze information to improve health service quality and patient safety.
Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason is calling on the RCMP to investigate whether MLAs, their family or political friends were allowed to jump the queue for medical services.
Mason says queue jumping by or through MLAs could be a breach of trust by a public officer, a Criminal Code offence under section 122.
Earlier this week, Alberta Health Services released a memo, dated May 10, 2009, condemning queue jumping.
Mason said the memo is an indication that the practice was a serious, widespread issue.
“You don’t write a memo ending a practice that never existed,” Mason said.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com