Dear Editor,
Leslie Vidok has just realized how it now feels to be a surviving victim of urgent care neglect. Thank you Leslie for publicizing your experience in the front page of the Sylvan News.
Unfortunately thousands more will have to fall through the cracks. I pray to God they all survive! Awareness is crucial. We can do better than an urgent care facility. We need a 24/7 emergency critical care facility (and yes Lyle I have done some research) which this town (with the surrounding area and guests during the summer) should get funding for. It will always be busy but then so is every emergency centre in Alberta (unfortunately the services at these centres get taken for granted, people get scared), and definitely the funds are there.
We need all the letters, voices, lobbying and commotion of any sort we can muster up. Keep it up Sylvan and surrounding area residents.
Second of all in response to Lyle Dressler’s comments in regards to urgent care. Sylvan Lake ambulances are now serving our (city sized) town in three minutes because now they are here, where we were they the past few years? Not here! A very reassuring sight thank you to whomever is responsible for that smart decision.
The financial gap you noted in your letter? Who cares about the financial gap the town would lose if an emergency care facility was to be fulfilled? My life doesn’t, my children’s lives or family and friends lives don’t care, and I am pretty confident the lives of the residents don’t care, because it is vital. And trust me the financial gap would not be filled up, where there is money to be made there is money to be found.
In regards to Alberta Health, they have their heads in the clouds and have no respect for human life — that’s pretty much all I have to say about them.
A monster town hall as you describe it, I like to call it the White House, is completely unnecessary. Does this town need such an extravagant building?
That could have been an emergency care facility better yet a hospital.
As for the ridiculous speed bumps, they make it very difficult for ambulances to hit top speed to save any lives rushing them to hospital, and the bathrooms are a joke.
I have lived here 19 years and never have I once heard anyone complain, I agree with your comment on the capacity of our town representatives, it dumb founding, but then we all are aware of this, thank you.
The so called urgent care you are referring to (I assume RDRHC) does not take 15 minutes via ambulance. It took us almost half hour. And your unfortunate incident falling off your ladder and rushed to your 15 minute away urgent care and getting in right away. WOW. Kudos to you, because under normal circumstances the wait at emergency is hours. Unless you have chest pains they see you immediately or within one half hour.
You know as well as I do it takes more than 15 minutes to hospital. Unless you have a jet or a private urgent care centre of your own and are not sharing it with the rest of us?
Sylvan and surrounding area needs an emergency care facility 24/7! The very least all these people in and around Sylvan should get is the respect for human life they deserve from their leaders and mentors by providing this (city sized) town with a centre for saving lives a life and death facility, not a facility open until 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. for cuts, scrapes and broken bones which can be taken to hospital! And when our population escalates dramatically in summer?
Come on! Alberta Health, Your Honourable Health Minister … It’s a no brainer.
I would also like to extend my deepest appreciation and extreme thanks for all the support received from everyone everywhere and to the Wildrose Party in different parts of Alberta for their support and understanding. Thank you so much everyone. God Bless.
Annie Boychuk,
Sylvan Lake
Editor’s Note: Ambulances have been based in Sylvan Lake for many years. Prior to Alberta Health Services taking over they were under contract to the Town of Sylvan Lake. Among those serving the town under contract have been Lakeside Ambulance (2008-2012), Guardian Ambulance (2002-2008), and Knutson’s Ambulance (prior to 2002) in the most recent years. The most recent provincial contract was awarded to Associated Ambulance which started operating earlier this year.
The town is not responsible for building an emergency care facility or hospital. This is a provincial government’s responsibility so reference to town expenditures and the suggestion they should be spending money on a medical facility is incorrect.