Alberta ER capacity: NDP urges Danielle Smith to respond

The Alberta NDP says overcrowded emergency departments represent an urgent capacity problem and is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to acknowledge and address it, while doctors and the Alberta Medical Association warn patient care is at risk.

The Alberta NDP has called on Premier Danielle Smith to acknowledge and address growing overcrowding and long waits in emergency departments, saying government leaders have been too quiet. Doctors and the Alberta Medical Association have warned that long ER waits and limited bed capacity are placing patient care at risk. The province has reorganized Alberta Health Services into four separate agencies in recent years, and the association is asking for renewed provincial coordination of patients among hospitals. The government has said a public health state of emergency would add little to current efforts and that it expects demand to ease as the respiratory virus season abates. Known details: - NDP hospital services critic Sarah Hoffman says the government has been silent and called for added resources and staffing to address ER capacity pressures. - The Alberta Medical Association reports patient care is at risk and requests restored provincial coordination for moving patients between hospitals. - The provincial government described calls for a public health state of emergency as misguided and said it is using available resources while noting long ER waits are a concern. Summary: The reporting highlights ongoing strain on Alberta emergency services and differing views between elected officials and medical groups about how to respond. Undetermined at this time.