Over 8,000 Albertans tell their health care horror stories

EDMONTON, AB--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A campaign calling for a “State of Emergency” in Alberta health care has received almost 25,000 signatures in three weeks on an online petition and over 8,000 stories and comments about the poor shape of the province’s health system.

CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal launched a new website (www.stateofemergency.ca/stories) today, publishing all of the 8,000 comments received by the union.

“The response has been overwhelming and heartbreaking,” said Uppal. “Albertans have told us about poor treatment, long waits and tragic results. This shouldn’t happen in a province as rich as Alberta.”

Uppal said that over the last decade, Alberta’s population has increased by 37%, but hospital beds have only increased by 13%.

“Health care workers will move heaven and earth to help patients, but after years of UCP underfunding, they are limited in what they can do.”

Some examples from the comments left:

“I had a Pulmonary Embolism and waited 12 hours to be seen, and was only seen then because my blood pressure was over 260. There was ONE doctor on that day/night.”
Susan - Edmonton

“My son was in emergency with air in his spinal fluid on his brain in excruciating pain. He waited 9-1/2 hours to see the doctor. He was rushed to the UofA in an ambulance, as it could have been fatal. OUR SYSTEM IS SOOO BROKEN. The Edmonton population has doubled since we last built a hospital.”
John - Edmonton

“I had to wait admitted in the extremely loud emergency room waiting for a bed for 3 days.”
Sheri - Calgary

“WE NEED MORE STAFF in the PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM as most of us cannot afford private.”
Lori - Ponoka

NOTE: Media can download a spreadsheet of all 8,000 comments (with contact information redacted) at this link.

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