BC restores Alberta surgery access for border communities – 'Only Practical,' says FSJ Mayor
FORT ST. JOHN – The March 1st reinstatement of access to surgeries in Alberta for BC residents, is a welcome change, particularly in the Peace Region.
As Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen told the broken typewriter: “For people in the Peace Region, daily life already crosses the Alberta–BC border through family, work, and community connections.
“It’s only practical that residents can access surgeries and medical services on either side of that border when it improves outcomes and reduces wait times.”
That practically has been missing since the second year of the Covid pandemic when, in 2021 the provincial governments “temporarily restricted” scheduled surgeries for out-of-province patients.
Prior to the restriction, British Columbia and Alberta had long cooperated to ensure that residents of BC, especially in northern and remote areas could have access to surgeries in centres closest to them. It was not unheard of in the Peace for patients to have surgeries and procedures, as well as specialist treatment made available in Edmonton or Calgary. This helped reduce wait times in the province, and often proved more affordable for patients, than travelling to Vancouver for treatment would be, for example.
In emergencies too, patients have been transferred from hospitals in northeastern BC to Edmonton as the closest facility with the best treatment options.
“Timely access to healthcare should be the standard across Canada, so I’m very pleased to see this kind of cooperation between neighbours,” Hansen said.
In a press release announcing the resumption of the partnership, government health representatives from both BC and Alberta praised the decision to resume working together, for the good of patients in both provinces.
Matt Jones, Alberta Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services said, “by working together, Alberta and British Columbia are putting patients first by streamlining the patient journey and expanding surgical access.”
Patients can speak with their primary care provider to learn more about having their scheduled surgery done in Alberta. An Alberta-based physician will be required to accept them for consultation and care as part of the referral process.
Hansen thanked “everyone who helped make this decision possible and for putting patient care first when it matters most.”
Thanks for reading! Original work by Tania Finch. If you’re inspired by this piece, feel free to share with credit and a link back — that’s how local stories spread fairly.