Still two beds at hospital
Minister says bed number unchanged at Western Hospital in Alberton
Nothing’s changed with bed numbers at Western Hospital, Health Minister Robert Henderson insisted Friday.
“Western Hospital still has 27 beds of which two are palliative care,” Henderson said in an interview. The issue came to a head more than a week ago when Alberton-Roseville Liberal MLA Pat Murphy reported he’s been informed the hospital has access to just 25 beds. While Henderson admits there is still some clarity needed in how the beds are defined, he insists the hospital still has two beds assigned for palliative care use, and 27 beds in total. He said there has been no changes at the hospital since the collaborative care model was introduced in 2013, and that change he said, did not alter the bed limit.
“Palliative Care is a very important component of a person’s health care,” the minister acknowledged. Murphy said he believes he and the minister are now on the same page on the matter. He said he raised the issue after the local hospital foundation expressed concerns about the bed number.
“I’m good if the number is 27,” he said. “Two palliative care and 25 acute care beds.”