EDMONTON - The province’s judicial inquiry into allegations of queue jumping in Alberta’s health-care system gets underway Monday in Edmonton and is open to the public.
Stephen Duckett, former chief executive of Alberta Health Services, is among the 10 witnesses lined up to give evidence and will appear Tuesday by video from his home in Australia. Duckett made allegations in 2010 that politically connected patients were able to get faster treatment — a key factor in leading Premier Alison Redford to call the inquiry.
Duckett had left his job with AHS shortly before.
Four doctors, three executives from Alberta Health Services and two nurses are also among the witness scheduled to appear in front of Justice John Vertes at the Shaw Conference Centre.
From AHS, Dr. David Meghran, vice-president and chief medical officer; Dr. David Diamond, vice-president of human resources; and Deb Gordon, chief of nursing, will give evidence.
Emergency doctor Dr. Paul Parks of Medicine Hat, a vocal critic of wait times in emergency rooms, and Dr. Bryan Holroyd, chair of emergency medicine at the University of Alberta medical school, will appear, as well as Sheri Droza, a charge nurse, and triage nurse Kyle Cridland, both from Calgary’s Foothills Hospital.
Calgary lawyer Ellen Embury will represent Dr. Jim Saunders from Rocky Mountain House and Prof. William Lahey.
Redford called the $10-million inquiry last February after months of allegations about a culture of intimidation in the health-care system. She chose to focus on the issue of preferential treatment rather than doctor intimidation.
When he opened the inquiry in October, Vertes said he was aware of complaints the inquiry’s focus was too narrow and said he has been assured that “this inquiry can follow the evidence where it leads.”
Duckett is expected to be a key witness. He was hired in spring 2009 by then-health minister Ron Liepert, who dismantled the 12 health regions and established the centralized AHS. Duckett’s contract was terminated in November 2010.
After he left his AHS post, Duckett alleged in a Toronto speech that patients with political connections were able to jump the queue and get faster treatment. Duckett said in the speech he told AHS staff not to take such requests from MLAs or government officials.
Intervener status at the inquiry was granted to the Alberta chapter of the Consumers’ Association of Canada and the Alberta Medical Association.
On Friday, the inquiry office refused to give details such as how many cases have come to light, when the interveners will be able to question witnesses or whether any MLAs will be called, or to provide a list of witnesses for the second week.
More to come …
The Edmonton Journal