By Sheri Monk

Last week, Alan Howard wrote letters to local newspaper in the Southwest, encouraging them to write letters to government to express concern over how healthcare in the region is administered. At the same time, the Eastend health advocate also launched a Facebook page called Save Health Care services in Southwestern Saskatchewan. As of Sunday evening, the page had already gained 335 members, by rural Saskatchewan standards, that’s positively viral.

“It really has, it’s been quite good. What I’ve also been hearing too in the Eastend and Shaunavon area, they said it was about time these people were finally held accountable for these things,” Howard said.
People, according to Howard, are also concerned about how the board of the Cypress Health Region is selected and who can ultimately hold the health region and the board accountable
“The biggest thing that a lot of people are upset about is the appointed board. That really seems to have struck a chord with a lot of people.
Howard’s efforts are starting to have an effect. He had a meeting scheduled with MLA Wayne Elhard for Saturday, but it was cancelled due to poor weather and will be rescheduled for this coming weekend. He says he wants to discuss the ramifications of an appointed board with the MLA.
“It just doesn’t work in a democratic country to have an appointed board spending taxpayer’s dollars because they are not accountable to anybody, except to the government and I don’t like that,” Howard said.
Cypress Health Region CEO Jim Hornell has called him twice, but Howard says he’s not yet ready to discuss the matter with the health region yet, but will sometime this week.
The Facebook page is attracting supporters from all over the Southwest. Communities from the north and south portions of the health region are well-represented. Patients and observers are relaying their own experiences with healthcare delivery, sharing war stories and successes from their own community with others who may not ordinarily have any contact. Howard thinks that’s a wonderful idea.
“A lot of them have said they are going to write and two or three I know already have. It takes people a little while to get going,” he said.
Some comments on the Facebook page include:
“Drop them by Consul where there is no cell service and simulate an ATV accident, then hand them a cell phone and tell them to call for help, see what a four hour wait for someone to find you (is like) then wait for (an) ambulance.”
“Some of us live 45 min from the closest hospital, when Leader has its diverson, it means that the nearest hospital is 1hr, 30 min away, do you think we have much hope if something would be serious? I don’t see why the hospital has to be closed, why can’t it operate as a health care centre like Cabri does, sometimes a doctor is not always needed.”
“A man in Leader had an allergic reaction to a honey dressing in town not long ago, and would have died if the hospital had been closed. We cannot afford to have no emergency medical services in small towns. He would have been waiting for an ambulance, then a 45 minute drive to Kindersley or Maple Creek. This issue needs to be addressed.”
“A lot of the Alberta people have cabins at Cypress or winter down south. We are the Southwest and we Will DO IT (BUILD OUR HOSPITAL OUR WAY) WITH OR WITHOUT THEM. If they want any credit they better get on our band wagon get rid of the managment.”
“Invite the Health Region Board to Leader and then take them back to Swift by ambulance. See if they like the ride to Swift or back to Medicine Hat.”
While grassroots, social networking movements are becoming more common, they pose a problem for organizations wishing to respond in a professional manner. Cypress Health Region has continually reaffirmed its commitment to healthcare delivery in the Southwest and to a new integrated healthcare facility both at Leader and Maple Creek.