Notley asks province to release data on surgical cancellations
On September 8th the province cancelled all elective surgeries as cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 surged, placing extreme pressure on Alberta hospitals.
Despite repeated requests, AHS has declined to share the total number of cancelled surgeries in Alberta, saying the information is not available.
For opposition leader Rachel Notley, that response isn't good enough.
"We're asking for a comprehensive plan from this government that will give some relief to families (of patients whose surgeries have been cancelled) and a plan to which they can be held accountable," said Notley while speaking in Calgary Monday. "Right now, we don't know whether Jason Kenney thinks that the cases will crest in late October and stay that way for six months, or whether they will crest and immediately come down."
"We don't know if there's plans afoot to bring more healthcare personnel to Alberta, to help deal with this incredible backlog," she said, continuing. "We don't know what the ETA is for patients to get the care that they need. And all of that would come out of this the sharing of this information."
The province has called in military help, and the Canadian Red Cross also accepted an offer by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador to send medical staff to the province, but those staff will be working in ICU departments that are currently clogged with COVID-19 patients. They are not scheduled to help clear the backlog of surgeries.
KIDNEY TRANSPLANT: CANCELLED
Dave Mathers was scheduled to receive a kidney transplant on the day surgeries were cancelled.
"I just finished talking to a pharmacist, they were going over medication, and then the surgeon came in, and I actually thought the surgeon was part of the routine to explain what happens. He opened up with, unfortunately, that to no fault of yourself or your donors, we're going to have to cancel the surgery," said Mathers.
"That was it," he added. "I was, I mean, I was in shock. A short time later, I had to get out of my blue gown and get dressed and call my wife and daughter and tell them that I'm coming home."
Mathers has end stage kidney disease and is currently on dialysis three days a week. Without the transplant he will eventually die. As well, despite being vaccinated he remains at a higher risk of an adverse outcome if he were to catch COVID-19. He is also concerned that he may have lost his chance at a donor organ. Mathers was set to receive a transplant from an anonymous live donor.
"My anonymous donor is making this tremendous commitment. They probably are working and their employers (are) making a commitment to them and, and yet, it gets delayed," said Mathers.
"At some point, they're just going to say, I can't do it right now, I'd love to, but I can't. And then I've lost my donor, I will probably never replace that donor."
While Notley lays the blame firmly at the feet of the UCP government she agrees with Kenney on one point. It may take help from private sector surgical providers to clear the backlog once surgeries resume.
"If there are private resources out there, right now, it's probably the case that the government needs to find a way to access those ensure that they are publicly-funded, and that we deal with the crisis as quickly and as pragmatically as we can," said Notley.
"If they then try to use that as a means of leveraging a completely different ideological strategy that, frankly, goes against what I think most Albertans want to see then we will have that fight, because that would be a grossly cynical move."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.