The public inquiry into queue-jumping in the province’s health-care system is making little progress in solving the many problems still plaguing the system.
Having produced no answers to date the inquiry comes at a steep price tag of $10 million, funds that would be better directed elsewhere, perhaps in an area focused on shortening the queue altogether.
The inquiry, which kicked off in Edmonton on Dec. 3, is looking at whether VIPs and politicians were granted preferential treatment and faster access to medical attention based solely on status, as opposed to medical necessity.
Former Alberta Health Services chief executive officer Stephen Duckett circulated a memo in 2009 addressing the “not uncommon” practice of queue-jumping in Alberta emergency rooms.
The memo instructed workers to refuse requests for preferential access, citing a conflict of interest and ethical dilemma.
Duckett, however, testified last week that he could not provide any specific examples of queue jumping; his claims were based on second-hand information and gossip.
Premier Alison Redford relied on this memo, as well as a report by the Alberta Health Quality Council, when she ordered the Health Services Preferential Access Inquiry in February.
Numerous physicians, representatives and executives have taken the stand since the onset of the inquiry and allegations are flying that bigwigs in the health superboard pressured emergency room staff to treat VIPs and politicians faster, although no one is able or willing to name names and provide proof.
Several individuals have stated that triage nurses denied the requests, despite the pressure they faced from superiors.
Regardless of what testimony is presented during the inquiry, one can assume queue jumping is a reality in the health-care system. Although this is a problem and must be halted, it is not the most concerning issue facing the $16-billion system.
Emergency room wait times continue to exceed the target length, with a lack of acute care beds and inadequate senior care further congesting emergency rooms. Add to that a vast shortage of family physicians and queue jumping – assuming it is a rare occurrence – seems like a drop in the bucket.
Despite the many problems plaguing the system, the province insisted on writing a $10-million cheque based on what can now be seen as a largely unsubstantiated claim from Duckett, who has since returned to his native Australia.
The public inquiry is an effort to restore Albertans’ confidence in the system, yet it’s based on second-hand information. Confidence in the system can only be restored if the province takes action to remedy the issues burdening the system.
The $10 million the government has set aside for this inquiry would be better directed to the serious concerns affecting the health-care system.
