Winfield Community Health Centre closes
Amanda Jeffery,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Despite a petition with more than 1,800 signatures from area residents, Alberta Health Services has closed the Winfield Health Centre.
Max Borzel, the local resident who started the petition, says he’s very disappointed.
“They didn’t listen to 1,800 plus people,” he says.
Borzel says he sent a copy to basically everyone he could think of. The list included the Alberta Health Minister, Adriana Lagrange, MLA Jason Nixon, County of Wetaskiwin Reeve, Josh Bishop, and the CEO of AHS, Athana Mentzelopoulos.
“I told her it wasn’t the right decision to make,” says Borzel.
His main concern was an interruption of services to nearby residents. The Winfield Health Centre offered services to a large area and included homecare services, immunization services, as well as after-surgery care services, such as changing bandages. Now, residents who need to have anything done will have to travel further to receive those same services.
However, Heather Kipling, the Communications Director for the Central Zone in Alberta Health Services, says the service level will not be changing.
“By far the majority of [home care] visits occurred in the clients’ homes, and these are not changing. Staff will continue to travel to client’s homes to provide care and support as they have been,” said Kipling in an emailed statement.
Kipling went on to say that the decision to close the Winfield Centre was not made lightly.
“The decision was made only after extensive review of the demand for the limited services available, ongoing staff recruitment and retention challenges, and our responsibility to ensure safe and timely care for our clients in the best working environment for those who provide that care.”
Since the closure of the clinic in the last week of June, residents who need in-person visits will need to travel to Rimbey, Wetaskiwin, or Drayton Valley. Kipling says those who need something closer can visit the Breton Health Clinic, where AHS has made arrangements for home care clinic space.
One of Borzel’s concerns is that many seniors may not be able to get to these other centres.
“A lot of seniors don’t drive any more,” says Borzel. “So if they want to come into the office, they have to hire somebody to bring them.”
Kipling’s statement says that AHS will do whatever they can to help mitigate travel concerns.
“Our teams will be working with clients and families to identify solutions for individuals with transportation or other accessibility issues that might prevent them from receiving these services. Wherever possible, appointments will be coordinated across services to help minimize travel.”
Borzel says he’s not satisfied with the efforts that AHS made to recruit for Winfield. He says that he was told AHS only recruited for the larger centres, thinking that would make the position more attractive.
But he’s not giving up the fight for homecare services in Winfield. Borzel is now petitioning to have a Nurse Practitioner brought in to help facilitate in-person visits on a local level.
In response to questioning regarding a Nurse Practitioner for the area, Kipling says that AHS does not hire Nurse Practitioners or Physicians for private practices. Since there is no public centre in Winfield, AHS will not be hiring anyone to work there.
“It has been a significant challenge at times to maintain service levels in Winfield, let alone explore expanding them. Placement of Nurse Practitioners in community-based clinics is not the role or responsibility of AHS.”
Kipling says those looking for more information regarding Nurse Practitioner placement should visit www.alberta.ca/nurse-practitioner-primary-care-program for more information.
Amanda Jeffery,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Drayton Valley and District Free Press
