[Barnaby]

^
“Countless hospitals” you say?

The best estimate of what was spent in and by all provinces and territories was $5 billion. That’s less than the current estimate to build a single hospital in SW Edmonton…

Nothing of substance from the feds. Most provinces have made very little of progress on adding beds.

This is a generational decision. The older voters decided from 2015-now that they don't value hospital beds.

I don't agree with it whatsoever, but I was in highschool when these decisions were being made. All provinces have messed this up.

Fact check:

Canada's COVID response plan was in excess of $500 billion with no infrastructure to show for it.

 

[kcantor]

Nothing of substance from the feds. Most provinces have made very little of progress on adding beds.

This is a generational decision. The older voters decided from 2015-now that they don't value hospital beds.

I don't agree with it whatsoever, but I was in highschool when these decisions were being made. All provinces have messed this up.

Fact check:

Canada's COVID response plan was in excess of $500 billion with no infrastructure to show for it.

Just a whole lot of businesses that were kept afloat that after now paying taxes and a whole lot of Canadians who were also kept afloat that managed to pay their rent and their mortgages that are now also paying taxes. And don’t forget the avoided costs of keeping people alive and out of hospitals…

PS It would be my guess that in fact older voters typically value hospital beds and health care (including COVID testing) more than subsequent generations.

 

[Barnaby]

PS It would be my guess that in fact older voters typically value hospital beds and health care (including COVID testing) more than subsequent generations.

And somehow their governments have failed to deliver these beds. Priorities.

 

[Whattagame]

And somehow their governments have failed to deliver these beds. Priorities.

I don't recall canelling the SW hospital being part of the UCP platform. The NDP found a way to get that project going.

 

[Airboy]

I don't recall canelling the SW hospital being part of the UCP platform. The NDP found a way to get that project going.

As well as Stollery. Design work had been started but like other HC facilities was put on the shelf. Seems the only hospitals were Calgary Campus. High Prairie and GP getting finished. There were dribs and drabs for upgrades to a few small regional Hospitals.. And we see Beaver Lodge HC finally starting. Only 25 years after the initial request.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Shortage is especially visible in acute beds.

 

[Gronk!]

I'd be interested to see that chart from 2018/2019 when the NDP were in power.

 

[policyenthusiast]

I'd be interested to see that chart from 2018/2019 when the NDP were in power.

I can do that. 2018-19, see page 146:

Acute: 8,483
Continuing: 27,635
Addictions: 2,772

Not much change from the UCP numbers.

 

[David A]

View attachment 716965
Shortage is especially visible in acute beds.

I don't believe people generally consider continuing care facilities to be hospitals, it would be the acute care beds which have gone down.

Just another example of misleading information from the government. If they put half the effort into improving health care as their all their communications spin, things would be better.

 

[policyenthusiast]

I don't believe people generally consider continuing care facilities to be hospitals, it would be the acute care beds which have gone down.

Just another example of misleading information from the government. If they put half the effort into improving health care as their all their communications spin, things would be better.

Doesn't seem misleading to me. A failure of governance, sure, but this is just data about the number of medical care beds by type.

 

[trevorhayden]

If those Addiction beds turn into "Recovery" beds, you might as well call them death beds.

 

[David A]

Doesn't seem misleading to me. A failure of governance, sure, but this is just data about the number of medical care beds by type.

It is, because it draws attention away from the real problem which is the stagnant and actually declining number of acute care beds.

 

[policyenthusiast]

It is, because it draws attention away from the real problem which is the stagnant and actually declining number of acute care beds.

Ah, I see what you mean. This chart isn't from the GoA, the data is. Chart is from a guy on Linkedin.

 

[kcantor]

It is, because it draws attention away from the real problem which is the stagnant and actually declining number of acute care beds.

Except the two aren’t unrelated. As of early 2024, an average of 1,500 acute-care beds were occupied daily by patients who are waiting for assisted living beds (approx. 18% of capacity) at a cost of $700 - 1,200 per patient per day.

The number of ALC patients occupying acute care needs is equivalent to taking the entire 1,093-bed Foothills Medical Centre, plus another 400-bed hospital, out of commission.

This is not to excuse or accept the multitude of failings in our health care system in any way, just to point out how integrated it is (despite our government’s attempts to further fractionalize it.

 

[David A]

Except the two aren’t unrelated. As of early 2024, an average of 1,500 acute-care beds were occupied daily by patients who are waiting for assisted living beds (approx. 18% of capacity) at a cost of $700 - 1,200 per patient per day.

The number of ALC patients occupying acute care needs is equivalent to taking the entire 1,093-bed Foothills Medical Centre, plus another 400-bed hospital, out of commission.

This is not to excuse or accept the multitude of failings in our health care system in any way, just to point out how integrated it is (despite our government’s attempts to further fractionalize it.

I had thought about that and agree they aren't unrelated, but the main reason for the increased number of continuing care beds is because the population is getting older.

The increase looks good, but is it actually keeping up with the number of older seniors needed them? You could get the impression from this chart it is, but that also may not be correct.

So again it spins something that may not be correct, regardless of the source. I am fairly skeptical about the presentation of any information that comes from the G of A.