EDMONTON, AB (December 9, 2011): The story of an elderly lady collapsing in front of a Lethbridge hospital and then having to wait for an ambulance to pick her up illustrates the main problem with the Alberta Health Superboard, Wildrose Health Critic Heather Forsyth said today.

Last week, it was reported a woman collapsed outside Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. A passerby ran into the hospital for help and was assured help was coming and went back to tend to the woman. Fifteen minutes later, an ambulance picked her up and took her to the hospital a half block away.

“This is what happens when front-line health workers are prevented from making decisions on the ground in their own community,” Forsyth said. “Instead of the hospital workers rushing out to the curb to help this woman, they had to adhere to a centralized policy that prohibited them from doing so. This is exactly why we need more local-decision making in health care.”

The Wildrose proposes dismantling Alberta Health Services and returning decision-making to the local level and empowering front-line health professionals to be more active in directing patient care.

The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.

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For further information or to arrange an interview, media are invited to contact:

Brad Tennant, Wildrose Caucus

Ph: 780-638-3576