Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To quote the memo, there are currently eight emergency room patients waiting for beds in this zone. “Any possible patient discharges are deeply appreciated.”

Coincidentally, today the Peter Lougheed reported seven cases in their emergency room waiting for beds. Alberta has 50 per cent of the psychiatric beds per thousand population of the national average. To the Premier: does the Premier see a connection between the lack of psychiatric beds and long emergency room wait times?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, I think we have a number of challenges to face in the health care system. We’ve been completely honest about those. The direct correlation that the hon. member is trying to make is not an appropriate correlation, and the answer is: no, sir, I do not.

Dr. Swann: The current mental health plan released recently downplays the need for more psychiatric beds in Alberta. How do you suggest professionals deal with critical psychotic cases needing continuous observation and treatment if not as an in-patient?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, I actually believe that the way patients should be dealt with is the way that Alberta Health Services is currently dealing with patients. I expect that they make clinical diagnoses, they ensure what the treatment should be, and they provide the appropriate services. These memos illustrate exactly that competency.

Dr. Swann: How do they do that without the appropriate services and support? How many of our most vulnerable people will die for lack of the essential mental health care? How many more?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, this is a serious issue. We should not be playing politics with this. This is an unfair correlation that causes people to be afraid when they have no reason to be.

Thank you.

Alberta Hansard, November 23, 2011

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