A Sylvan Lake widow will be stepping up her efforts to convince the province to bring emergency care to her community.
Brent Boychuk, 49, collapsed on Saturday, Aug. 18 at about 4 p.m. outside a doctor’s office and later died of a heart attack.
His daughter drove him to two doctor’s clinics after he began experiencing heart problems. They discovered both were closed.
Annie Boychuk said her husband would have had a greater chance of survival if there was an emergency care unit in Sylvan Lake, whether it’s at a hospital or urgent care centre.
“This is something that should have been done years ago,” Boychuk said on Monday.
Sylvan Lake is fighting to gain an urgent care centre that’s open seven days a week with extended hours with laboratory and x-ray services and non-life-threatening medical care.
“That’s not good enough for this town.
“Not only this town, but the surrounding area,” said Boychuk, who wants local care for “life and death situations.”
Boychuk wants to hear from other people who have concerns about the lack of emergency care in Sylvan Lake. So far she has received about 30 letters of support.
She also wants people to write government officials — the mayor, health minister and local MLA — and she is preparing a petition she will distribute around town.
“They need to know how urgent this is. Keep sending me those letters.”
She also has collected about $3,300 to bring better health care services to Sylvan Lake.
Letters can be sent to Boychuk at 9 Palmer Close, Sylvan Lake, AB, T4S 1K3, or email babbb@telus.net. She can also be reached at 403-358-4647.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com