A couple of weeks ago, we pondered whose hand was on the tiller when it came to health services in this province.
Today, just like the 10-person Alberta Health Services board that Health Minister Fred Horne severed from its duties with scalpel-like precision, I guess we know the answer.
A couple of weeks ago, we questioned the sanity of spending $600,000 to fill an undermining-related hole in the ground in Canmore at a time when St. Martha’s Place in Banff’s Mineral Springs Hospital (MSH) was having its budget chopped to the tune of the exact same amount.
Further, we wondered how, at a time when a number of health care operations and services besides MSH were being slashed in the province, the board could justify spending millions of our dollars on bonuses for AHS execs who, according to reports, failed to meet target goals.
Again, now we know.
Hey, at times we use this space to criticize provincial government endeavours – but we’ll hand out kudos when they’re due.
With an estimated $3.2 million due to be showered on 99 AHS execs, Horne was not a happy camper in Edmonton, especially after he showed his displeasure with the move. The $3.2 million was up from $2.4 million the year before and followed wage freezes for front-line service providers such as doctors and teachers.
Led by now-unemployed AHS board chair Stephen Lockwood, though, it was argued that millions in bonuses were for work already completed (to whose satisfaction, we don’t know).
Horne then told Lockwood and the board Tuesday (June 11) it was his way or the highway and to cease and desist in paying bonuses in a time of fiscal woes. Unwilling to follow Horne’s directive, though, the board refused and was axed en masse on Wednesday (June 12).
We’re OK with that.
Possibly Horne, like we in the Outlook newsroom, believe that chopping $600,000 from St. Martha’s continuing care, hacking 24 of 50 palliative care positions in Calgary and watching as a B.C.-based private health business laid off all nursing staff in a strike situation at an Edmonton seniors’ facility, among other examples, isn’t really speaking to quality health care.
To ante up millions in bonuses for “good work already done” apparently didn’t sit well with the man at the top.
In our opinion, it just doesn’t work for a provincial board to feel they are so at arm’s length from those footing the bills that they don’t have to follow directives.
In a press release, Horne stated, “Albertans elected us to ensure government – and its agencies and boards – live within their means.
“At a time when we’ve asked our front-line providers, including doctors, teachers, and support workers to take freezes in pay, the unwillingness of the AHS’ board to reconsider its decision on pay-at-risk is completely out-of-step with the government’s priorities – and more importantly, the priorities of Albertans.
“Since I was appointed health minister, I have been very clear that our government expects AHS to be closer to the people they serve and to be ever mindful of the impact of how decisions affect front-line care.
“Yesterday’s directive on bonus pay was at least the fifth formal directive I’ve issued to AHS in recent months.
“The response to yesterday’s directive and the comments later made in the media raise serious questions as to whether the board can continue to function effectively and work collaboratively with government and other community stakeholders.
“Regrettably, the premier, my cabinet colleagues and I were forced to consider whether Albertans can continue to have confidence in their ongoing ability to direct change in our health system.”
Apparently, like in other lines of work where the boss man’s word is law, Horne believes that should be the case when it comes to a health services board.
We agree.
Worse yet, according to Horne, some AHS execs offered to forego their bonuses, but the board wouldn’t allow that; no doubt thinking the move would make those who banked their bonuses look bad.
Rightly so, Horne’s now put in place Janet Davidson as Official Administrator of Alberta Health Services effective immediately to act in place of the board.
A nurse by training, Davidson is a senior executive with over 30 years of direct experience in health-care administration and governance – in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
Health care is important to Albertans; let’s hope a new face in health care will result in a new attitude. It’d be nice to be on the same page, health care-wise.
Oh, and good work, Fred.
