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Vol. 10, No. 52, Tuesday, October 27, 2015
24/7 emergency care supporters present petition
MICHELLE PINON PHOTOS
Petition spokesman Richard Mandryk presented the petition requesting the reinstatement of 24/7 Lamont Hospital emergency care to Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jessica Littlewood at her constituency office on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Pictured from left to right are: Lamont County Reeve Wayne Woldanski, (supporter), Mandryk, (petition committee member), MLA Littlewood, Larry Doskoch, (petition committee member), Chris Klita, (petition committee member), and Doug Sullivan, (supporter) and President of the Lamont & District Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Director of the Lamont County Regional Economic Development Initiative. Michelle Pinon Editor
One man’s quest to have 24 hour emergency care reinstated at the Lamont Health Care Centre (LHCC) has resulted in a countywide petition that has garnered more than 800 names. Larry Doskoch, was on hand with a group of supporters to present the petition to MLA Jessica Littlewood at her Constituency Office in Fort Saskatchewan on Oct. 20. Doskoch, was accompanied by fellow petition committee members Richard Mandryk and Chris Klita as well as supporters Rev. Debbie Brill, LHCC board member, Wayne Woldanski, Reeve of Lamont County, and Doug Sullivan, President of the Lamont & District Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Lamont County Regional Economic Development Initiative. Mandryk, acting in the capacity of official spokesperson for the group, made the presentation to Littlewood which included some of the background surrounding 24 hour emergency care at LHCC. “In May 1995, 24 hour emergency coverage at LHCC was reduced because of an unfortunate fire
and a reduction of the availability of medical staff. It is our understanding that the former Lakeland Health Region reduced funding to the facility in accordance with the level of care being provided. The facility returned to a 12 hour emergency service (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily), although 24 hour service is available to patients and residents of the facility.” Mandryk went on to explain, “However, there is an ongoing and growing need to return to the availability of 24 hour emergency services at the LHCC.... Many of our residents and personally those of us who are making this presentation here have encountered situations where we either had to drive to another community for ER Service or had to delay access because some could not drive or had the resources to find immediate help, much to their detriment.” He cited several reasons why 24 hour should be reinstated, and those included: •Medical Manpower is in place to meet the growing needs of the community •Our community dynamics have changed •The facility serves a growing population, including seniors •There is every indication that the surrounding communities will continue to grow, especially given
our relationship with the Heartland Industrial Zone •The industries in the area are supportive of LHCC and where appropriate, have made donations for the purchase of special equipment •Industry requires immediate availability of 24 hour emergency access for its workers. “I certainly support the request for this essential service,” stated Woldanski, who said the number of signatures on the petition represented 10 per cent of the population in Lamont County. Woldanski said he also knows of other hospitals that bring in locums to maintain 24 hour emergency service. “That would also attract other physicians to LHCC,” added Woldanski. Rev. Brill agreed there is a definite need for 24 service. “We do have an aging population.” She also said it would be comforting for residents to be treated by doctors they know. Mandryk said the dynamics the community are changing with more young families and industry moving in to Lamont County. Sullivan concurred with Mandryk. Littlewood said she appreciated meeting with them, and would research the rules regarding presentation of petitions in the Legislature. The group is hoping to have the petition presented during this session.