EDMONTON — Four days after Alberta Premier Alison Redford promised a sweeping probe into doctor bullying and political meddling in the health system, her health minister ordered up a panel with a much narrower scope.
Health Minister Fred Horne announced Tuesday he will ask for a judge-led independent inquiry to look at allegations that some patients were given preferential treatment to jump the queue on wait lists.
Broader allegations of systemic bullying of doctors and political interference will not be probed unless they specifically relate to the queue-jumping issue, he said.
When asked to explain the discrepancy, Horne said cabinet — including Redford — has since reviewed the Health Quality Council report that prompted the inquiry.
He said they are abiding by the council’s recommendation that it has gotten to the bottom of the intimidation and meddling issue and further money would be better spent fixing the problem.
“The premier has delivered on her promise,” Horne told a legislature news conference. “This is the decision of our government and cabinet.”
He said it’s time to move forward. “This is not about placing blame.”
The announcement comes a week after the council delivered damning evidence of health system breakdowns that began when the government reorganized it under one central board in 2008.
The council found patients waited hours for care and suffered for hours without pain-relieving medication.
Many physicians said they were bullied by their bosses when they spoke out. Some lost their hospital privileges, while others reported being targeted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons with audits.
Opposition critics said the announcement was another broken promise from Redford.
“This is a bait-and-switch,” said Raj Sherman, an emergency room doctor and leader of the Liberals.
“She (Redford) made one promise and she did something else.
“The major problems were physician intimidation and the whole health care system being in crisis. Somebody has be to be held accountable.”
Sherman noted Horne himself has been accused of intimidation. When Sherman was kicked out of the government caucus over a year ago for criticizing health policy, Horne called the head of the Alberta Medical Association to express concern for Sherman’s mental health.
Sherman said it was an intimidation call to discredit him in the medical community as mentally unstable.
“This minister was responsible. He needs to be put on the (witness) stand and held to account.”
Horne declined to address the AMA call at the news conference. He said it had been dealt with in a statement to the legislature.
NDP critic Rachel Notley said the announcement was expected.
“What we’ve seen here is very clearly another example of the premier breaking yet another promise,” said Notley. “We simply cannot expect this government to set up a legitimate system that could possibly end up prosecuting itself.
“If Albertans want change, they’re going to have to change the government.”
Redford is expected to drop the writ in the following weeks for a mid-April general election.
The quality council made 21 recommendations to fix the system. Horne said the government will implement them all.
He announced the creation of two task forces.
One will look at clearing up the lines of authority in the health system, while the other will review the College of Physicians and Surgeons to ensure it remains an impartial regulator.
Horne has also directed the system reduce occupancy rates in hospitals to 95 per cent by Halloween to help cut wait times in emergency care.
There will also be a Health Quality panel to look at ways to improve the ambulance system.
Redford has taken heat from opponents during her five months in office for what they call “flip-flops” on issues.
On Friday, reporters in Calgary asked her if allegations of political interference, queue-jumping, and doctor intimidation will be examined by the panel.
“They have to be (examined),” she replied. “I have great confidence this will be a meaningful and a thoughtful process that is going to help us ensure that on a go-forward basis we’re creating a better environment for health-care workers and patients.”