Former Health Minister Liepert says he'll resist calls for queue jumping inquiry

[taco.vidal]

From Edmonton Journal:

EDMONTON — Alberta Energy Minister Ron Liepert says he will fight premier-designate Alison Redford's vow to call a judicial inquiry into allegations of political meddling in the health-care system.

The call for an inquiry to explore accusations of doctor intimidation and queue-jumping was one of Redford's most distinctive campaign promises during the Tory leadership race. But Liepert said he believes the initiative will be a waste of time and money that ultimately will conclude the allegations are frivolous.

"I don't support it, so I guess we'll have that discussion. But even if that's what is decided, I still won't support it," Liepert, a former health minister, said Tuesday following Redford's first caucus meeting as head of the PC party.



Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...#ixzz1ZxCSGIj5

[Azure]

The only reason he wouldn't support it is if he is guilty or involved somehow.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Certainly if he opposes an inquiry in the face of his caucus supporting it, that looks very suspicious. It'll be interesting to see if Redford can create a united front on this issue.

[Resolute 14]

If he's the former health minister, it really isn't his call. He's just opposed to the inquiry, he can't slow or stop one.

I haven't followed this one too closely... this was Raj's big hobby horse, was it not? I don't recall if he ever brought forth any evidence.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If he's the former health minister, it really isn't his call. He's just opposed to the inquiry, he can't slow or stop one.

I haven't followed this one too closely... this was Raj's big hobby horse, was it not? I don't recall if he ever brought forth any evidence.

I'm not sure either. Of course, it wouldn't be a complete shock if it happened.

But public opposition to an inquiry isn't really a good way to sell the "ignore Raj Sherman, he's a crank" hypothesis. The allegations may well be unfounded, but since Sherman was in a position to know, I think the public deserves the truth.

[Resolute 14]

The public does, but yeah, so far it seems Raj has brought nothing. Just claims of "people in the know", and that only came after he made it known he was willing to sell himself to whatever party would make him its leader.

If Redford is on board with an inquiry, it will most likely happen, and that isn't a bad thing in this case. But on the surface, Liepert's objections are also fair. God help us if we opened an inquiry for every crank who screams loud enough... especially politically motivated cranks.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

That's a fair point. And to be honest, I can't recall if there was any evidence brought to the table.

[Bunk]

I thought that the accusations of queue jumping were brought forward by Stephen "cookie monster" Duckett, not Raj Sherman.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I thought that the accusations of queue jumping were brought forward by Stephen "cookie monster" Duckett, not Raj Sherman.

You're absolutely right. How did I forget that?

[VladtheImpaler]

I have no doubt that allegations of queue jumping are true (since I know it happens), but what is the point of the inquiry? It is impossible to have a "pure" bureaucratic system - there will always be insiders who get preferential treatment. As long as the frequency isn't outrageous, it's the price you have to accept if you want to have a public system...

[Northendzone]

seems time to raj against the machine........if they have the inquiry they'll find that someone some folks managed to get in front of the queue - those folks likely are related to high ranking people in the government - and there'll be a rhubarb for a week and then we'll move on to the next topic......

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

I have no doubt that allegations of queue jumping are true (since I know it happens), but what is the point of the inquiry? It is impossible to have a "pure" bureaucratic system - there will always be insiders who get preferential treatment. As long as the frequency isn't outrageous, it's the price you have to accept if you want to have a public system...

I think it depends on who is jumping the queue. If it is the doctors kids avoiding a line it is one thing, but if it is politicians or anyone who donated money to politicians who are getting preferential treatment then there is a problem. Those are people who are in a position to fix the system*. As long as they have a workaround in place for themselves then they are fine making the rest of us suffer through everything. I think that is why people were bothered that Danny Williams flew to the States for treatment.

*If there was nothing wrong with the system they wouldn't need to jump the queue.

[Rerun]

I don't doubt that persons of privelege que jump. ... and in general, politicians with the right connections, are persons of privelege.

But lets face it. This is a witch hunt designed to divert the publics attention from the real problem. ... which is... Alberta's health care system is broken!

Has anybody tried to find a family doctor these days? Its almost impossible. There just aren't enough doctors around (I blame lack of educational training facilities) and the ones that are around are overworked. Go see a doctor these days and you feel like you're on a time clock. Gone are the days when you could just make an appointment with your family doctor to discuss your health problems and concerns. Its one problem per visit, a quick examination, a short discussion, a written prescription, then you're rushed out the door.

Thats just one problem. We also have a nursing shortage (again.. I blame the lack of spaces in the schools), we have bed shortage... hell we have a damn hospital shortage! It ridiculous!

So, in the overall scheme of things, some politician que jumping is really just a drop in the bucket of our health care system problems and is really just an illustration of how horribly wrong things are in the system.

[GP_Matt]

I just think those responsible for the system should suffer with the rest of us.

I think the problem with the doctors visits is the funding system, not the shortage of doctors. The way it is setup now doctors can only bill for one issue per visit. If they spend more time with you discussing multiple things they still only get paid once. Making you come back three times to discuss separate issues means they get paid three times. I would assume that one longer visit takes less of the doctors time than three separate shorter visits so fixing that should free up more of the their time.
I think the system was setup to prevent fraud on the doctors part. The fear is that every visit would result in a dozen invoices for real and imaginary problems that the doctor fixed that day.

I have no idea what the solution is though. I like the idea of paying a doctor based on the number of patients he takes on instead of visit numbers, but that would punish doctors who treat sick or chronically ill patients.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I thought that the accusations of queue jumping were brought forward by Stephen "cookie monster" Duckett, not Raj Sherman.

The more I look at it, the firing of Duckett was a 'shoot, shovel, and forget' excercise by the Stelmach government that Duckett made extra easy by flipping out over his cookie. I've heard him on the radio a few times since and a lot of what he's said about health care and his criticisms of the Stelmach government make sense.

[para transit fellow]

and the problems pre-date Stelmach. Klein's government decided that the best way to manage the growing health costs was to limit the number of doctors in med school ( source: (Ted Morton at a Town hall meeting in Crossfield about 2006).