By JACKIE L. LARSON ,Edmonton Sun
First posted: Monday, March 11, 2013 06:11 PM MDT | Updated: Monday, March 11, 2013 06:20 PM MDT
A group of 80 medical doctors say Alberta Premier Alison Redford made incorrect statements in a video address and robocalls last week.
Dr. Kerry Pawluski, president of Save Our Medevac said Redford’s assertion her government has acted on all 18 relocation recommendations from the Health Quality Council is just wrong.
“The council recommended that an overpass and dedicated ambulance lane be built on QEII. There were recommendations that traffic lights be synchronized and medical IV pumps and monitors standardized on ambulances to speed patient transfers. None of these recommendations have been implemented,” said Pawluski.
The group is seeking “safer options” to relocating emergency flights from Edmonton’s City Centre Airport to the international airport. They say the extra transport time for patients from northern communities could prove fatal.
Contrary to Redford’s opening statement that “Edmonton plans to close its City Centre Airport on March 15,” the city has set no date for the closure of the airport, Pawluski said.
“The airport will continue to be open for at least another year or longer,” Pawluski said.
The premier’s claim that only five emergency cases per month arrive by medevac is unrealistically low, said Dr. Richard Birkill, community medical director in Lac La Biche.
“Although jeopardizing the lives of 60 patients per year is still too many, I know that Lac La Biche alone sent 120 critical time sensitive patients last year by medevac,” he said.
The doctors want relocation delayed and medical professionals and communities to give input to fixing the relocation plan, a press release said.
Twitter: @SunJackieL