Alberta Health Services

World Canada

Published

OK, we've all heard that they are eliminating 100 managerial positions.

We got the OT ban announcement last week, followed by the "part timers should pick up shifts before OT is permitted" (well, duh, that's in the contracts, can't help it if the staffing office failed to follow the rules), followed by the those on OT will be floated off to units within their services that are short.

How about the wonderful pens for nursing week?

How is AHS affecting your work day?

Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Zwozdesky is on Alberta primetime tonight, wonder what rhetoric he will have to share. Because I have family in Alberta, I do watch some of the Alberta news stations and I get the impression that even the people of Alberta are concerned about all these cuts to healthcare that these clowns are implementing.

I guess one can only hope for now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

People in Alberta SHOULD be worried. The buzzwords that Duckie likes to trot out whenever anyone criticizes are access, quality and sustainability. His plan to improve access? Close 550 beds - 250 in psychiatry and 300 in acute care. And to add 800 privately provided (user-pay-through-the-nose) assisted-living beds when there are almost that many frail elderly with high dependency needs waiting in acute care beds for long-term care. His plan to ensure quality? Drastically reduce the labour force - from dietary to security to maintenance to hands-on care providers. No one can predict how he plans to make it all sustainable in a province that has the highest birth rate in the country and a very dangerous industry at the heart of its economy.

Another of his buzzwords is transparency. Hark back to the abrupt closure of rural helipads last summer, which was blamed on Transport Canada... who made haste to inform the world that they had NO issues with the helipads at all. That flipflop was whiplash-inducing. Then there was the statement that management and administration were been slashed to save money, of course only AFTER the huge severances were paid to those removed from office... but in the end the new organization chart runs to 90 pages. NINETY! Many positions were not deleted, just renamed something less managerial. He states that one significant cost-containment initiative was amalgamating the payroll system across the province- which has not happened, but employees in Calgary are still butting heads with Telus Sourcing Solutions over gross errors to their pay every payday and the other eleven payroll systems are still functioning. And why would AHS feel compelled to borrow $220 million from the Royal Bank when the province's rainy day fund could more than easily provide that sort of money? On December 11, there was a meeting with staff at the University/Stollery Children's Hospital to reveal the workplace transformation that is being piloted there. But at the end of the meeting those in attendance had NO IDEA what was going to happen, when or how. Because the person leading the meeting stated quite baldly that there wasn't an actual plan in place, only that there were changes coming and staff should all be very excited to be in on the ground floor. In other words, they're making it up as they go along. Sheesh.

There are still many changes and disruptions in the offing. It won't be resolved any time soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hah. Now the opposition is calling for Ducksy to be replaced. AND they mentioned severance package.

Why can't I get a severance package/golden handshake? I'd be gone in a flash if they offered me a tenth of what management gets.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..
Hah. Now the opposition is calling for Ducksy to be replaced. AND they mentioned severance package.

Why can't I get a severance package/golden handshake? I'd be gone in a flash if they offered me a tenth of what management gets.

Oh yes, I would be so gone too, with the severances they get. Seriously, if they offered it to all the nurses, I'll bet there would be nobody left. lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg.

What do you mean..........they were offering such a wonderful (NOT) severance package to AHS employees. Can't think why everybody didn't take it!! :-D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am from alberta, although I have not been living there for a year and a half, I have heard all about Mr. Duckett and his solution to make health care more accessible. Is he a Canadian citizen? What I've heard is that he is from Australia. I do not have a problem with people from other countries, but I don't understand how someone has the right to come to a Canadian province and reform the health care delivery system of CANADIAN citizens.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

He was recruited and hired by our elected government.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
He was recruited and hired by our elected government.

For a princely sum, with incredibly generous benefits... the details of which can be found here:

http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/files/org-contract-dr-duckett.pdf. FYI, business class flights between here and Sydney run about $8,000 each. (see p. 4) Another clause that I just love is the professional development one where he gets $10,000 a year to take courses or attend seminars. And the year-long paid sabbatical for every 5 years he works for AHS... and then there's the $50,000 transition allowance... it just goes on and on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Let's just hope today's budget trims a few management/consultant type positions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OK, so the surgical backlog is due to end. We're supposed to work harder and more intelligently. Duh. What do the powers think we've been doing?

But I am seeing the part timers suddenly be asked to work more hours. So I guess they are serious about spending $8mill in the next couple of months.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So the surgical push is on. The units are keeping track of how many OT shifts are being used and how many part timers are picking up "extra" shifts.

Funny how the patients are all like "I didn't get much warning".

CARNA is negotiating and AUPE is due their cost of living increase at the end of the month. The govt. tried to shaft the Teachers on their COLA but had to back down.

Fun times ahead.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment