EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CLOSURES & PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT

The Town of Fort Macleod is deeply concerned about the ongoing closures of our local emergency department. Unfortunately, these closures, caused by a shortage of physicians, are not unique to our community, but that does not lessen the impact on our residents. We understand the stress and uncertainty this situation creates, and we want you to know that we are fully committed to finding solutions.

While healthcare falls under provincial jurisdiction, our Council has been unwavering in its engagement with Alberta Health Services (AHS), the Rural Health Professionals Action Plan (RhPAP), and our MLA, Chelsea Petrovic. Over the past several years, we have consistently advocated for more physicians in Fort Macleod and pushed for immediate and long-term measures to stabilize our healthcare services. We have also collaborated with neighbouring municipalities to develop joint strategies for addressing this critical issue.

In response, Town Council has adopted a physician recruitment plan designed to attract and retain doctors in Fort Macleod. This plan includes a five-year commitment payment of $10,000 and additional community memberships and passes to support new physicians and their families. We continue to explore further strategies to attract and retain physicians to prevent additional closures.

We encourage residents to voice their concerns directly to MLA Chelsae Petrovic, as your feedback is crucial in driving the changes we all seek. We believe that through our collective efforts, we can overcome this challenge.

We share your frustration and are determined to work with AHS and our provincial representatives to ensure Fort Macleod receives the reliable healthcare it deserves. Your concerns are our concerns, and we are committed to addressing them.

Town of Fort Macleod Mayor & Council

A message from Alberta Health Services regarding service disruptions can be found here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/acm/Page18953.aspx#ceo