Alberta Health Minister Shannon Hoffman is refuting claims of frontline service cuts for Alberta Health Services.
The Alberta Union of Public Employees claims as talks continue regarding delivery operations, they’ve already started to see layoffs this week.
Hoffman said such claims are incorrect.
“There will be no cuts to frontline workers or patient care as we work with AHS and our partners to deliver health services as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Hoffman said in a release. “AHS needs to ensure it manages existing staff and resources appropriately.”
“But I have been clear – there will be no cuts, just as I have also been clear that we need to find ways to slow the rate of spending growth.”
AHS says in an email there have been recent meetings focused on a project called ‘operational best practice’ which involves “benchmarking AHS with comparable counterparts in healthcare service delivery both inside and outside Alberta.”
But AUPE President Guy Smith calls it something else.
“What we’re talking is cuts,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how you dress it up, it doesn’t matter how much you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.”
AHS said there will be no frontline employment losses as a result of the current discussions, but Smith said there have already been layoff notices as of two days ago and that AHS plans on eliminating many vacant positions.
The AHS email says the organization is working to manage spending and to be efficient as possible.
“AHS has been working to slow our expense growth. Multiple initiatives are now underway designed to achieve clinical and operational efficiencies and cost savings, while continuing to maintain or improve the quality and safety care of our patients.”
“At times, programs may revise staffing models and mixes to meet the needs of the organization. The goal is to use our resources as efficiently as possible while maintaining a focus on quality care.”
Smith said they heard last week that AHS was looking at potential cuts and ongoing discussions have been going on to try and resolve the problem.
“There will be cuts on the frontlines as a result, so for AHS to spin it any other way is disingenuous.”
Smith said from what he understands, if big cuts do eventually happen, it appears to be broad-based.
“I don’t think any department will be spared and I don’t think any department will be singled out,” he said.
