More than 8,000 Albertans have shared the reality of our collapsing system. These unfiltered stories are proof we need immediate action; more beds, more staff, and sustainable funding for universal public health care. Fair warning: reading through these real experiences is overwhelming.
Scroll down to read the stories, and if you have not, sign the petition and submit yours now.
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sonja a
calgary, AB
No person should die in a waiting room of overfilled, underfunded, understaffed hospital because there is not enough resources being put into that system to support it. No one with a ounce of humanity wants to know someone died scared in the waiting room of the place that is meant to do it's best to save them. But the thing is, someone did. Someone died. Someone died scared. Died untreated. Died on the doorstep of safety. A life, with it's thousand unique meaningful connections to others and the world is prematurely gone because of a system that is being sat upon by the weight of a governments lack of care. This is unacceptable, one life is one life too many. Every level of our health system is being overwhelmed and the government that could help is doing nothing because a life means nothing to the bottom dollar. This death is the top of an issues that run miles deep in our government and I cannot fathom that depths of depravity they have to pretend that everything is under control. The house is on fire, they're outside on the lawn. They locked us all inside to choke on the smoke. Smiles from them, because there is no fire? What do you mean? If there was wouldn't we all be choking on smoke? But look we're all fine out here, no smoke at all! So there is definitely no fire! The lies are not going to stop. The system is about to be choked out from the smoke and something must give, this cannot continue.
nisha c
edmonton, AB
Brought by ambulance to. Royal Alex hospital amd waited 12 hours without seeing any doctor I signed myself out because it wasn't serious to you after that length of time ? NOT ME I SIGNED MYSELF OUT IF I WAS GOING TO DIE IT WASNT GOING TO BE ALONE ON A TRIAGE BED IN HOSPITAL
kimberley s
calgary, AB
Patients shouldnt be in hallways for days before they get proper care. Enough is enough. Privatization is not the answer.
christina m
red deer county, AB
My mom is in the ER as I write this. She was in the waiting room for 8 hours and has been largely ignored for the next 8. She has desperately needed gallbladder surgery for a YEAR. My mom is wasting away and her quality of life is a dumpster fire. And this is far from an uncommon story. FUND OUR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE, MARLAINA
doug f
edmonton, AB
I've spent a total of 30 hours in ER last year - 22 accompanying my girlfriend when she contracted a stomach virus and after she had a bad fall, striking her head and 8 hours as a patient after developing a bad leg infection. If there was more than 1 urgent care clinic in Edmonton (and if had longer hours) I think many of the patients I encountered wouldn't need to be in the ER. Also we need more social workers, addiction counsellors and the like as I'd estimate a third of the patients waiting needed those services rather than a physician.
kristen w
canmore, AB
I strictly oppose privatization of healthcare! Why mirror the dumpster fire of the United States when we should mirror powerful countries with strong social frameworks.
donna f
morinville, AB
The waiting times are ridiculous, my sister was in also over 8 hours waiting and her health was reclined after my daughter had to get them to demand them re check her vidals . She was hospitalized and spent 5 days in hospital .
tracey c
red deer, AB
I find it ridiculous that we are waiting in emergency rooms. Some people have even died waiting to see a emergency Dr. We are latterly told that if we need certain things we can pay to get them done quickly or we can wait for a year or longer if we can't afford to pay. This is not what we should have to do.
jill g
calgary, AB
I'm supporting in the name of my friend, Vince Motta who died January 2, 2001 of an appendectomy. Due to long ER wait times, he was not triaged properly and waited several hours for care that he did not receive which ultimately lead to the loss of his life at 23 yrs old. If you're reading this please put Vince and his family in your hearts and know that NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN 25 YEARS healthy people are still dying in ERs in Alberta and we can't stand for it.
lori c
ponoka, AB
WE NEED MORE STAFF in the PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM as most of us cannot afford private
susan b
edmonton, AB
I had a Pulmonary Embolism and waited 12 hours to be seen, and was only seen then because my blood pressure was over 260. There was ONE doctor on that day/night. We need to support our doctors and nurses. We NEED to bring in more. We NEED to pay more.
raymond w
edmonton, AB
In a province as good as ours we need to have a sustainable, and efficient hospital system without privatizing. We don't need American healthcare we need a Canadian solution so people are not left dying in our emergency waiting rooms.
bonnie j
calgary, AB
I support PUBLIC healthcare, not for profit! The dismantling of our healthcare system into silos has made our healthcare crisis much worse. The inability for communication between silos is destroying our system. Everyone needs healthcare, not just the rich and entitled!!
jeff s
edmonton, AB
My mother in law slipped and fell on ice two weeks ago. It was nearly declared a “medical miss” by having it take 48 hours from the time she was admitted until she got in for surgery. Meanwhile all around her we saw similar situations of patients waiting days for critical surgery.
claire f
lethbridge, AB
We all need and deserve timely and affective healthcare. I'm disabled and need lots of support from my pcp and many specialists. And have had to be in the ER too many times for uncontrollable issues relating to my health problems. No one should have to suffer for hours because the government refuses to pay properly for supplies and for all of our healthcare workers. No one should have to die waiting for life saving treatment. We are a first world country and one of the richest provinces in Canada. There is no excuse for the state of our healthcare system. Be better. Be Albertan. Be Canadian.
nina m
edmonton, AB
I believe healthcare is for everyone, should not be a for-profit industry, and should be one of our governments highest priorities. The UCP government may not have caused all of the current problems, but they are single-handedly making them exponentially worse. They clearly do not care for all Albertans, as they often claim.
marilyn f
st. albert, AB
I’ve had unusually long wait times in the er at the sturgeon Hospital in St Albert for my husband who suffers from heart failure and has required heart surgery in the last year. I wish to see less waiting time in the ERs for all patients . A rehaul of the system should be done starting with a sincere apology from the Premier for all the stalling on improving the system. Demolishing AHS and Caritas only adds to the dysfunction in the systems . Listen to all who suffer long wait times and especially to the doctors who have begged for change for years and not received it ending up in the crisis we are in now,
allison f
peace river, AB
Previous ER nurse in Peace River AB, left AHS all together due to the terrible management & accountability. Terrified to need medical care in this province. Nurse educators are allowed to snoop through patient charts rather than providing care or education to patients or nurses. The state of our healthcare system is absolutely disgusting.
donald d
edmonton, AB
As an Albertan we deserve better Healthcare and shorter wait times at the ER. Is Alberta the richest province, be hard to prove with the state of our health care.
lorraine w
edmonton, AB
We are the richest province in Canada. Why isn’t more money being spent on services that every single Albertan needs? Folks should not be dying in our ER’s nor should they be waiting long hours for care.