The following statement is to be attributed to Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) President, Mike Parker who is unavailable for interviews.
EDMONTON – “More money to recruit doctors and nurses is needed, but you can’t fix health care without our members – lab professionals, respiratory therapists, social workers, pharmacists, addictions counsellors – every other kind of counsellor, therapist and technician sick and injured Albertans rely on.
“HSAA represents highly-trained and dedicated health care professionals working in 240 disciplines – you can’t have health care without us. From testing to treatment, it takes a team of health-care specialists to diagnose, care for and help patients recover.
“We expected to see funding for increases in staffing for mental health and addictions, lab workers, diagnostic imaging, as well as therapists, technicians, and technologists.
“We’ve been listening to the Premier and Health Minister praise the contributions of our members, but this budget does not reflect their words. This shows a lack of understanding of how the health-system works, it will not solve the ongoing health-care crisis, and it continues to put Albertan’s lives at risk.”
HSAA is the union of 30,000 health-care professionals dedicated to protecting the public health system and the vulnerable Albertans who rely on it.
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Media Inquiries:
Kirk Heuser, HSAA Communications Officer
780-690-8199 | kirkh@hsaa.ca
