The Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council is hosting its second community health meeting on Sept. 7 with invited panelists after holding a public forum on bi-provincial health issues in the region in 2022. Andy Ridge, who is now the assistant deputy minister of health standards, quality and performance with the Alberta government, is pictured speaking at the initial Legacy Centre meeting. Source File Photo
The Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council hopes to turn people away at an upcoming community health meeting at the Centennial Civic Centre Auditorium.
Advisory council chair, Paul Richer, wants an overflow turnout on Sept. 7 to learn what’s happening in the region from Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) officials.
“I hope I turn people away. I need the media, our own group, everybody to pack the place to turn people away because I believe with just that fact, we’ll send a message,” said Richer, who expects at least 150 people to attend.
He says the intended outcome is for health authorities to “clearly see the community is united” and recognize the Lloydminster region has fewer services than anyone else in both provinces.
Richer also hopes health authorities are willing to do something about it.
He says he wants to see “less lip service” and some construction and programs added.
The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation at 7 p.m. from bi-provincial panelists who are expected to address the council’s list of priority health issues, including an update on renal dialysis.
“I’ve asked for a written copy,” said Richer, who will provide copies of the advisory council’s own progress report on outstanding health related issues in the region.
Richer expects the panel to bring residents up to speed on the promised update of the 2013 Lloydminster Integrated Health Services and Facility Infrastructure Needs Assessment.
“The Lloydminster area is underserved when compared to provincial average health services capacity and the services provided in communities with similar catchment populations,” states the assessment.
The advisory council launched a city-wide letter writing campaign earlier this year that brought the assessment to the attention of bi-provincial health ministries.
“So hopefully, we want to get some stronger timetables to where we’re at and that it is moving forward,” said Richer.
“We were told a few months ago that it was 18 months away to be completed. We are hoping it’s on track. Once you have it in the public domain, it’s really hard for them to retract.”
Richer also hopes the panel touches on other priorities including the need for mental health stabilization beds, bi-provincial medical file sharing and long-term care spaces as well.
Both provincial health authorities have previously confirmed Lloydminster will need an additional 60 spaces by 2025 and 148 spaces by 2035.
“There hasn’t been any announcements on some of the other initiatives, so we’re hoping there’s something new,” said Richer.
“We’re hoping Saskatchewan Health will announce things specific to our area, not just provincial matters. We’re just cap in hand, eh.”
The advisory council is still working on the panel makeup, but it has nailed down Andrew McLetchie, vice president of Integrated Northern Health from SHA as a confirmed speaker.
Organizers are also hoping Chad Sayers, director of mental health and addictions services NW, will attend. If not, a mental health official from SHA will be on hand.
“We did invite Andrew Will, chief executive officer of SHA and he hasn’t said no, so we are really hopeful he will come out,” added Richer.
An invitation has also been extended to Janice Stewart, chief zone officer for Central Zone AHS.
“Stewart is the Alberta lead on the dialysis project and many other things,” explained Richer.
Stephanie Munro, CEO of Lloydminster Region Health Foundation will act as the master of ceremonies and moderator during a prepared question and answer period.
“We’re going to try to reach out to the public so they can pose some questions ahead of time. That will probably be through social media we’re hoping,” said Richer.
“When we’re done the Q and A we will invite the representatives to hang around and meet with the public.”
The community health meeting in September will be the second public health meeting organized by the advisory council since a May 18, 2022 forum at the Legacy Centre on all aspects of health care in the region.
