The Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council is expressing its concerns as Alberta Health Services is looking for a new location to house the dialysis unit in Lloydminster. AHS says “concerns were identified” about the proposed Prairie North Plaza location.
In an email to MyLloydminsterNow, the AHS says their review of “space logistics and possible layout” at the proposed location led to the decision that an “alternative location be found that would better support the service expansion now and in the future.”
Fundraising by Lloydminster groups has been ongoing for numerous years to support the move to increase the number of dialysis units from five to six to serve patients in this region with kidney disease and needing dialysis.
Paul Richer with the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council says they first heard of the AHS change in December.
“It came as a surprise and shock to all of us and we are basically saying,”What’s with this – somebody dropped the ball, in our view.””
Richer says they have raised their concerns in a recent meeting with Saskatchewan rural and remote health minister Everett Hindley.
“There’s a little crew of us – four of us that went to Regina. One of our four items we talked to him about was,”What the heck. Did you know that this thing came to a wall.” There are some people in SHA and AHS that obviously are scrambling. I believe they are trying to secure a different location in quick order.”
Richer says that Hindley expressed surprise at the change in site location and adds that this new development in the years-old project is another example of Lloydminster being ignored.
“I think we found the proof that we are really being neglected. You haven’t even sent the consultant ahead of time – and identified Prairie North for years – and nobody bothered to check out to see if it was suitable.”
The AHS says it remains committed to working with the SHA on the project. They have put in $4.25 million towards the project and the SHA is providing the location. They indicate in their email that the number of patients served will increase from 20 to 36 when the unit is established.
Another location is being assessed and the AHS indicates they will communicate on that matter when it is confirmed.