Alberta to open more acute-care beds

More acute-care beds will be opened in Alberta hospitals over the next coupleof months to deal with rising demand, Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said Wednesday.

"Some new beds were opened in the last few days that are now operational today. More will be opened in the next few days and in the next few weeks and so on," he said.

"In total, we have a target of approximately 250 beds but I'd feel more comfortable saying at least over 200 for sure."

In Calgary on Wednesday, 67 people admitted to emergency rooms had no bed to go to. In Edmonton, the number was 88. Both figures are higher than the average for last month.

The new beds will be split between emergency and detoxification patients. Specifics about where the beds will be opened will be released soon, Zwozdesky said.

Liberal health critic Kevin Taft was critical of the government, which he said,prefers to do report after report, instead of dealing with problems in health care.

"The problems continue and in many ways they get worse," Taft said.

"So instead of solving the problems, instead of doing what's necessary, we have these kinds of window-dressing shows, while the real decisions are going on behind the scenes. It's no way to run a health care system."

NDP calls legislation 'smoke and mirrors'

Zwozdesky madehiscomments during a news conference about theproposed Alberta Health Act, which willbe introduced in the legislature this fall.

Zwozdesky also announced he accepted all 15 recommendations from a report submittedmonth by an eight-member advisory committee, headed by Edmonton Conservative MLA Fred Horne. The recommendations will be incorporated into the new legislation.

The report said Albertans want a health-care advocate and a charter included in the new provincial health act.

New Democrat MLA Rachel Notley called the legislation "smoke and mirrors" that fails to deal with Albertans' real concerns about health care. They don't want or care about a new health act, she said.

"WhatAlbertans care about is theStrathcona County Health Centre.WhatAlbertans care about isgetting peopleand staff inside of the Northeast Health Centre in Edmonton.What Albertans care about is the psychunit that was promised and never built in Calgary."

The recommendations were developed after 1,300 Albertans in 23 communities across the province attended workshops this year and filled out surveys on the internet.