Notley promises teaching clinic in Lethbridge during campaign stop in city

By Lethbridge Herald on May 8, 2023.

Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley speaks during a campaign stop Monday evening in Lethbridge at the Galt Museum. Herald photo by Ian Martens

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

NDP leader Rachel Notley has promised her party if elected to govern Alberta after the May 29 election will set up a new Lethbridge Teaching Clinic here to serve southern Alberta families with their healthcare needs.

The clinic would bring seven new medical students as well as 20 new family medicine residents here to increase healthcare access for families.

About 40,000 Lethbridge residents are without a family physician.

Notley spoke at the Galt Museum on Monday night at a packed, raucous rally.

The teaching clinic, said Notley, will include a family health team consisting of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals as well as obstetrics care.

At the rally, Notley also promised an NDP government would provide five free counseling sessions with a psychologist for every Albertan and would provide universal coverage for contraception, saying women don’t deserve to pay out of pocket.

She also said the NDP will make sure Lethbridge residents can have babies at the hospital here instead of travelling 300 kilometres, one of many comments which drew roars of support.

She said under the UCP, the province is facing crises in health care, and affordability adding “it’s time for hope, common sense and trusted leadership.”

The NDP says it will partner with the U of L, the University of Calgary, Chinook Regional Hospital and local physicians to building the teaching clinic and will ensure a focus on obstetrics needs here.

The NDP will examine the possibility of locating the clinic on the U of L campus.

The costs to build the teaching clinic, which will include a family health team clinic, are estimated to be $10 million. Annual operating cost is estimated at $18 million which includes the costs of teaching and training.

Notley said the NDP will staff Chinook Regional Hospital “so health care is there when you need it. We know this is something Lethbridge families care about deeply.”

“We would also consult with the Blood Tribe and Indigenous communities on establishing an Indigenous Centre of Excellence in Primary Care,” said Notley in a media statement released before the event.

This Indigenous centre would co-created to train doctors in culturally appropriate care, building on the memorandum of understanding between the University of Lethbridge and Blood Tribe Health department.

Shannon Phillips, the NDP candidate for Lethbridge  West and NDP East hopeful Rob Miyashiro, were at the rally with her party leader.

 “We know doctors trained in the Lethbridge region are more likely to build connections and work in the community long-term,” said Phillips.

 “The UCP has created chaos in healthcare that has driven away doctors, leaving 40,000 residents without access to care. Enough is enough. Instead of fighting with doctors, we’ll recruit them,” said Phillips in a media statement.