Mixed reaction to merging Alberta health regions

Talk that Alberta will soon slash the number of health authorities in the province is generating support and some concerns.

There are now nine health regions, each administering health care and hospital services in their own corner of the province. But officials, including Premier Ed Stelmach, have hinted that number could be reduced to three, two or even just one.

"There is a good case from a health-care delivery side to markedly reduce that down to two," health care economist Richard Plain told CBC News Wednesday.

Plain doesn't see too much outrage from communities if the number of regions is reduced, because he said there already was a large degree of consolidation. Five years ago the province cut the number of regions from the original 17 to 9.

"I welcome a new governance model but I'm fearful for what will happen with our hospital, said Greg Pasychny, the mayor of Edson, 200 kilometres west of Edmonton.

Edson is part of the Aspen Health Region, one of the largest health authorities, which stretches from Jasper, in west-central Alberta, to Cold Lake, in the northeast part of the province.

He wants assurances that any changes in the way health care is administered will not put smaller communities like his at a disadvantage.

"Our community's been waiting for over 20 years for a hospital and we're hoping that it doesn't get taken off the shelf because of a new model."

Stelmach would not say Wednesday what options the government is considering. But he insisted the health-care system could be improved by spending less money on administration and more on frontline care.

And it's a view, he said, the public holds as well.

"They have this feeling that a lot of money is spent on administration. And if you could just take that money from administration, put more of it into the service delivery that we would solve some of the issues. That is why the minister will be looking at all of what we heard from Albertans."

Health Minister Ron Liepert announced last month his plan to review the way health authorities operate as part of the government's plan to improve access to medical services and get a handle on rising costs.

Details of the changes to health authorities are expected to be released next month.