An Airdrie mother says her delivery on the side of the highway illustrates the potential danger Airdrie’s lack of a birthing facility presents and she is calling for change.
Nearly eight years ago, Kelsey Brockway gave birth to her son Noah while en route to Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Centre. Brockway’s husband attempted to drive his wife to hospital but Noah made his debut in the family’s truck on the side of the QEII Highway.
Brockway says she was fortunate that Noah arrived without complications considering the fact she was without medical assistance.
“I have had two other kids since then, both with the (umbilical) cords wrapped around their necks twice,” said Brockway of her hospital births. “If that had happened with Noah, it might not have been such a happy turnout.”
Over the years, Brockway has discovered her birthing story is not as unique as she once thought and she is now aware of at least six other families with similar tales. Brockway says Airdrie moms should not have to place themselves or their children at risk and she hopes her neighbours feel the same.
The Airdrie and Area Health Benefits Initiative, which incorporated this week, is asking Airdrie residents to select which health services should be developed in the community before a full-service hospital is built, which is likely decades down the road.
Dr. Julian Kyne, a member of the health cooperative team, agrees that Airdrie’s need for additional medical services, including a local birthing centre, has drastically increased.
“We’re no longer 10,000. We’re 65,000,” said Kyne of Airdrie's population growth. “What worked well back in the day, migrating to Calgary for health services, doesn’t work today.”
The urgent care centre in Airdrie recently announced its operating hours will increase to 24 hours a day, seven days a week beginning in the spring of 2017.
The Airdrie and Area Health Benefits Intiative is currently in the process of creating a website. Airdrie residents will be able to join the website as members, at no cost, and provide input on how health dollars should be allocated in the region.
With files from CTV’s Alesia Fieldberg
