The Alberta government has stated the Boyle Hospital is not at risk of closure, but the Boyle Hospital committee insists that for the hospital to remain viable, it must be renovated.
The needed renovations include everything from making bathrooms wheelchair accessible to installing new flooring throughout the building, according to one committee member.
The 13-member hospital committee was formed in 2013 and has been meeting with Alberta Health Services (AHS) in regards to the future of the hospital.
“The committee was formed to be an advocacy group,” said Village of Boyle chief administrative officer Charlie Ashbey. “We didn’t want to see the current level of care diminish.”
Several weeks ago, the Wildrose Party circulated the AHS 2011-2014 Facility Infrastructure Capital Submission, which states the hospital could close or be turned into a primary care clinic.
Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Fred Horne has since said the hospital will not close.
Still, said Ashbey, “We can see the writing on the wall, and we understand that there are not a lot of funds for a new hospital, and that having a hospital in Boyle between Lac La Biche and Athabasca, the pencil pushers would look at it and say it can’t be afforded.”
He said there are people from a wide area that utilize the hospital.
“The area is growing, and the workload of the doctors is growing. It is not a declining service centre, it is increasing,” he said. “We are saying that if it is increasing, then we should maintain it and improve it.”
Routine maintenance is being completed on the facility, but without a comprehensive maintenance plan, there are issues that need to be addressed.
“It is a quality built structure and needs some immediate attention. There is no reason it cannot have an extended life span,” Ashbey said. “We realize that the dollars probably aren’t there right now for a brand-new hospital, but we are saying this facility serves a purpose and is needed.”
Ashbey said there is a lack of money for larger projects, but he is hopeful that will change.
“(AHS is) prepared to work with the committee and come up with a plan to make sure these major upgrades are funded and time allocated for them to be completed,” he said. “If it is true that the facility needs major upgrades, and it is also true that it is not closing, then the logical conclusion is that a bunch of renovations need to be completed.”
Community member Terry Mudryk also sits on the committee.
“The importance of operating a full-capacity facility was discussed and agreed by both AHS and our committee,” Mudryk said. “Last year, the hospital serviced 13,000 patients with over 34,000 hospital and clinic visits in total.”
Mudryk also stated the hospital serves Highway 63 and is a regular stop for STARS air ambulance.
Mudryk believes the hospital is in good shape, but like Ashbey, thinks it needs some renovations.
“Considering the hospital was built in 1966 … it does have a good shelf life with some upgrades and maintenance,” she said. “Other bigger items are renovating the bathrooms to make them wheelchair accessible, new flooring throughout, new front station, some lighting … railings and painting.”
The Boyle Hospital Auxiliary has raised funds for the hospital, which has helped to purchase specialized equipment.
“In my opinion, this hospital can have a long, extended life if upgraded and maintained,” Mudryk said. “It’s critical to this community and to those that travel (Highway) 63.”
Another meeting between the hospital committee and AHS has been scheduled for May.
Ashbey said the portion of the AHS 2011-2014 Facility Infrastructure Capital Submission circulated by the Wildrose Party said the hospital could not continue functioning without some upgrades.
“It is time to have a plan to complete the upgrades,” he said.
Ashbey noted he has requested the full 2011-2014 Facility Infrastructure Capital Submission from AHS but has not yet received it.
The Advocate has requested the most recent facility infrastructure capital documentation pertaining to the hospital. An AHS representative stated AHS would not release such documents unless obliged to through a Freedom of Information and Privacy Act request, which is being filed.
