COVID wasn’t the only issue 2020 brought
If you thought COVID was the only major health and seniors related issue in 2020 — think again.
It was a year full of major changes, or at least the first rumblings of changes to come.
Alberta Health Services announced it would lay off more than 5,100 people across the province. It is still not clear how many will be impacted in Medicine Hat, but several subsequent announcements revealed the departments affected.
AHS announced it will privatize laboratory collection services across the province, including Medicine Hat, to save money. In early December a request for proposals was issued to further the initiative.
In addition to changing the Carry Drive lab collection services, currently under AHS, the lab in Medicine Hat Regional Hospital will also be transitioned to services only for patients in hospital.
The closure of the MHRH laundry also came one step closer to taking place. In October, AHS issued a RFP for private companies to submit bids to take over laundry services. The RFP process will take about four months.
Across the province it will affect 428 fulltime, part-time and casual employees currently working for AHS.
It is not clear how many will be affected in Medicine Hat but a couple of years ago there were 25 people in fulltime and part-time positions and 12 casual staff in the hospital laundry department.
This year the Medicine Hat Maternity Clinic, located in MHRH, also announced it was closing in April 2021, because of lack of funding. Some funding had previously been supplied by the Palliser Primary Care Network and that was stopped. AHS also requested that the physicians working in the maternity clinic start paying rent for the space used and some utility costs. At present talks are ongoing to attempt a solution but we could see the final chapter of the clinic in the spring of 2021.
One of the good news stories of the year relates to COVID-19 and the extremely low number of residents in local seniors’ residences who tested positive. Across the country there have been horror stories of rampant COVID in seniors’ residences and a high number of COVID related deaths. It makes the situation in Medicine Hat extraordinary. All staff and operators should be applauded.
The Veiner Centre has been a refuge for many seniors in Medicine Hat for decades. When the COVID lockdown started in March it was closed and although it was briefly opened again with limited access, it has been shut down again.
The meals for Meals on Wheels are prepared in the Veiner Centre kitchen. During the lockdown the usual volunteer drivers to deliver the meals, who tended to be in a high risk category for COVID, briefly stepped back from their role and city staff stepped in to continue the service. Later the regular volunteers resumed their service.
If there is one lesson we should all have learned in the last year it is the importance of clean hands and washing them thoroughly and often. Long may that continue.