Boyle Health Care Centre is not facing closure, says Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Fred Horne.
“There are absolutely no plans to close the hospital,” Horne said last Friday in response to statements made by the Wildrose Party which he regarded as “misinformation”.
“The Boyle Hospital is not closing, full stop,” Horne said.
Earlier last week, the Wildrose Party circulated the Alberta Health Services (AHS) 2011-2014 Facility Infrastructure Capital Submission. The document, which Wildrose health critic Heather Forsyth said was obtained through a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of Alberta (FOIP) request, references a “Boyle/Athabasca Health Care Centre Consolidation and Repurposing” and details the positives of combining the two facilities.
The AHS document describes the project as “consolidation of acute services to the Athabasca Health Care Centre and possible repurposing of the Boyle Health Care Centre into a primary care clinic or, conversely, divestment of the property.” The stated rationale for the project is “to rationalize and optimize both healthcare services and facility utilization in the Boyle/Athabasca catchment area.”
“Our government isn’t forthcoming on information,” said Forsyth. “Lo and behold, there is the Boyle/Athabasca health care consultation. It also includes a repurposing plan.”
However, Horne was adamant that the Boyle Hospital isn’t closing or being repurposed in the near future.
“It’s just talk,” Horne stated. “I am not sure where it is coming from, but there are absolutely no plans to close the Boyle Hospital.
“I heard there was a document from AHS from 2011 that was circulating that may have suggested something at that time, but that is certainly not the case today,” he explained.
Horne acknowledged that the Boyle Health Care Centre does need some attention.
“There are some needs that have been communicated to me by (Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater MLA) Jeff Johnson,” Horne stated. However, he stated there was no short-term plans to renovate the building.
Johnson said he is unaware of any plan to close the Boyle Hospital.
“I think (Wildrose) are trying to do a little fear mongering,” he said. “I think they are speculating.”
Forsyth said if the hospital isn’t being closed, its good news for residents of the community.
“The minister talks out of both sides of his mouth,” she said. “I have been health critic for four years and he says one thing, and the FOIP says another.”
AHS senior media relations advisor Tahneen Luedee stated there are older facilities that need addressing.
“In Boyle, health services remain the same and we continue to invest in facility upgrades,” she said. “Community consultation is important to AHS and integral to the work we do, to ensure health care services are meeting local care needs. We will continue to monitor local health care needs and consult with Albertans about the delivery of health care services in their communities.”
