Sandy Lee

My understanding is that the receiving doctor at Capital Health decides where this patient should go. The decision was made that the patient should be sent where she went. Our agreement that we have with Alberta is that we are guaranteed the medical services that Alberta residents get, and that’s what we have.

Mr. Speaker, yes. In answering the Member’s question when he raised it for the first time in this session, I did commit to having my officials talk to the pharmacists. That was about seven days ago. We have not had a chance to do that. I don’t really have any feedback. I’d happy to undertake to consult widely not only on this but on some of the issues that the Members are bringing with the pharmacists to see if this is working and, if it’s not, what suggestions they may have to improve that.

Mr. Speaker, I will be happy to provide the information as to the work the staff did, the calls the nurses made to talk to the patient’s husband in Yellowknife as well as Northern Health Services Network staff this government has hired in Edmonton to help our northern residents who are sent there. I don’t have that information handy, but I would be happy to provide him information on the steps we took to assist with this situation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have that information. I’ll be happy to get that information to the Member. My understanding is that U of A and the Government of Alberta are investing a huge amount of money to make the U of A and the University hospital a centre of excellence and research in the country.

Mr. Speaker, as I stated yesterday, this is a medical decision. A medical doctor at Stanton decides that somebody needs to go elsewhere to receive medical care that we cannot provide here. The medical doctor would be in touch with somebody in Capital Health to receive our patients. So it’s a medical decision; it’s a medical practice decision, and I believe in this case that decision was made by the medical practitioners.

I’m not sure of that. It’s in the mix to be considered for next year’s planning projects.

Mr. Chairman, the RFP went out in July, and I believe the lease was negotiated at the end of last month, so it hasn’t been signed for three months. The location is in between Wycliffe Centre and the mall, that area.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have answered one part of that question: 1,843 square metres of space is what we are looking for. I believe we have acquired that with 25 parking spots. It is in the downtown location.

I would also concur with Minister Miltenberger that we will get back to the Member on the details of the lease agreement signed. I would think that there is a provision in there that it’s subject to approval of this House.

Mr. Chairman, this capital funding includes everything to do with the clinic. That would include tenant improvements as well as all of the medical equipment and everything else that would have to go into this clinic.

Secondly, I do want to inform the Members that there have been extensive studies done. Initially when this project was approved, I think about three years ago, the thought was to build a new building. The review has come to the conclusion that it’s more economical to use the existing site and do tenant improvements.

I’d be happy to get back to the Member on the exact breakdown of...

I believe so.