(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Southern Alberta First Nations get grants to create chartered surgery proposals

Nov 6, 2020 | 12:03 PM

STANDOFF, AB – Two First Nations in the region are each receiving $50,000 to help advance one of the UCP government’s key healthcare initiatives.

The Blood Tribe and Siksika Nation will use their funding to develop proposals for chartered surgical facilities that could offer publicly-funded surgeries to people on and off-reserve.

“I’m delighted to see so many First Nations willing to work with government to help meet our commitment to provide all scheduled surgeries within clinically appropriate wait times by 2023,” says Health Minister Tyler Shandro. “Partnerships with First Nations could be a big boost to the Alberta Surgical Initiative, helping us to eliminate the backlog from the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driving innovation to help us create the strongest surgical system in Canada.”

A media release from the province states that the First Nations will complete a needs-assessment and business case to determine if a chartered surgical facility “would be a good fit for their community.”

In order to consider opening a chartered surgical facility, a First Nation would have to build it close to a large city hospital should patients need additional care.

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Alberta Health Services (AHS) will post the first requests for proposals this fall to either expand existing chartered surgical facilities or build new ones.

“Having surgical suites in First Nations opens new possibilities for better access to health care while bringing jobs and the spin-off economic benefits to communities. It is another step on a path to shared prosperity and reconciliation,” says Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson.

In addition to the Blood Tribe and Siksika Nation, $50,000 grants are also being given to the Enoch Cree Nation, Maskwacis Bands, Tsuut’ina Nation, and Bigstone Cree Nation.

Currently, 43 chartered surgical facilities work under contract with AHS in the fields of ophthalmology, dermatology, ear, nose and throat, oral and maxillofacial surgery, gynecology, and reconstructive plastic surgery.

AHS’ goal is to “exceed pre-COVID surgical volumes early in 2021, reaching 125 per cent – and up to 150 per cent if required – in order to reach 2023 Alberta Surgical Initiative targets.”

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