Seniors bear brunt of health care crisis: FOM
By Lethbridge Herald on June 7, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Friends of Medicare participated in the LSCO’s Living Well Expo as part of Seniors Week activities this past week.
Chris Gallaway says after listening to many seniors’ concerns about lack of medical doctors and high emergency wait times, he sees the need for better continuing care options and to bring back the office of the Seniors Advocate, which was cut by the UCP a few years back.
“Folks who are talking to us about their struggles they have with access and care (need to have) somewhere to go to get support.”
Ideas for a More Prosperous Society (MEI) recently released a report that indicates the average wait time for Albertan emergency wait times is almost four hours, where the patients are often waiting in agony to see a doctor.
Gallaway says this issue is two-fold, with staffing issues that are causing closures in rural hospitals, forcing people to travel to seek treatment, and the lack of family doctors within Lethbridge that is forcing people into the hospital emergency department because they have no other option.
“It’s a perfect storm of delays and if people could actually access primary care, they wouldn’t be in the emergency room in the first place.”
He adds that for years Friends of Medicare has been lobbying the government for a workforce plan to no avail.
Gallaway sees seniors are most affected by this through surgeries being delayed, not being referred to specialists and often not seeking medical attention until they are desperate.
He also says having things like walk-in pharmacy clinics, while they help alleviate the situation, can only do so much and are costing Albertans more in the long run.
“We need team-based care. Obviously, pharmacists have a skill setting and can provide some services and should, but we shouldn’t pretend that it’s replacing primary care.”
Gallaway is also deeply concerned about the lack of urgency from the government with the measles outbreak, saying officials didn’t begin to act until their former chief medical officer publicly called them to action.
“Kids are sick, some are very sick and our goal should be to prevent further outbreaks and bring it back under control, yet they haven’t announced any changes to their initial targeted plan.”
He adds that there should be more education on the effects measles has, especially on young children, and how people from out of province can ensure they are protected as they won’t be able to get their information from calling 811.
Gallaway also spoke with a number of people saying they had to pay out of pocket for eye exams, due to the government delisting eye exams, something Smith said she wouldn’t do during her election campaign.
Through many conversations with local people, Gallaway sees the importance of prioritizing accessible medical care for everyone, not just for those who can pay for it.
17-16
So what have we got going here, another NDP echo chamber, family abandonment or the big bad Smith intentionally hurting seniors. Always the same, it’s the government and the FOM yapping about it. Get off the couch and do something constructive.
So my comment is waiting for approval. Can’t figure why. Is it the “NDP” echo chamber or the FOM yapping.
buckwheat and his selenium babble, and now a new subject to rant about.