When is reputation more important than health?

Editor:

It was disconcerting to see a letter in The Herald from Darren Sandbeck, Senior Provincial Director and Chief Paramedic with Alberta Health Services, in which he admitted not knowing about any of the recent cases of EMS service problems being recounted by mayors and fire chiefs in Alberta.

How the many specific cases, where problems in dispatch led to increased wait times, possibly worse health outcomes, and certainly longer periods of pain and trauma, listed by our civic leaders failed to come to the attention of Alberta Health Services’ management indicates either a complete breakdown in communications or utter disregard for the voices of the people they serve.

The mayors and fire chiefs assure us they have repeatedly shared their concerns with Alberta Health and the government.

Mr. Sandbeck’s ignorance of any “adverse events, response delays or negative outcomes” really beggars belief.

His plea for keeping all such discussions behind closed doors is perhaps the most telling part of his letter.

When did the organization’s reputation become more important than peoples’ health at AHS?

Are we really at the point where PR pre-empts the ER?

Cities have offered to fund local dispatch themselves. The UCP have turned down that chance to provide better emergency service to Albertans. In fact, they will even fight such offers in court.

I for one appreciate the stand our municipal leaders are taking to fight for the best outcomes possible for people who are facing health emergencies.

I know many others feel the same way.

Tom Moffatt

Lethbridge