January 14, 2026
Sarah Hoffman, Alberta’s New Democrat Shadow Minister for Hospital and Surgical Health Facilities issued the following statement:
“Our health care system is in full crisis, yet the UCP seems to be in vacation mode. Albertans are dying without getting the care they need. People are afraid to access their hospital’s ER because of how long wait times are. Families are losing hope as the system fails their loved ones. Doctors and patients are sounding the alarm that it’s not just the flu season making things bad—it’s health care staffing shortages, a culture of fear, and structural chaos caused by the UCP that is only making things worse. Enough is enough.
“Albertans deserve accountability and action instead of mismanagement and silence. To whichever combination of UCP Health Ministers is providing an update on Thursday, here are some questions Albertans need answers to:
“Following the tragic death of 44 year-old father, Prashant Sreekumawent, while waiting hours for care in the ER, what changes are being implemented to ensure no other Albertan dies while waiting for care?
“Why did an 84-year old woman in Edmonton with a broken hip have to lay in the freezing cold for more than an hour waiting for an ambulance last week? What steps are you taking to speed up response times so seniors are not left in dangerous situations?
“Why did an Edmonton man have to drive a seriously injured stranger to the hospital, after being told by police that no EMS or ambulance was available? What’s being done to increase ambulance and EMS capacity so Albertans can trust that emergency help will be there when they need it?
“Why is Edmonton losing 20 inpatient beds at the UofA this coming March with the closure of one of two family medicine units? Where are other beds in Edmonton being added in their place?
“A recent op‑ed outlining serious capacity problems in hospitals and acute care was endorsed by 242 Alberta doctors. Some of their recommendations were to ensure patient‑safety thresholds and stronger surge protocols. Will you work with doctors and front-line workers to establish and implement these safety standards?
“None of the four health ministers have answered questions publicly about the health care mismanagement and chaos in hospitals for weeks. Which of the four UCP health ministers has been the lead in managing this crisis over the holidays? Which health minister is in charge now? Doctors and health care workers continue to sound the alarm about internal confusion between Acute Care Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, and Recovery Alberta – especially when services are delivered under the same roof.
“Will you be voting in favour of Alberta New Democrat Bill 204 this March in the legislature? This new bill would give health care workers stronger whistleblower protections when they need to speak up about mismanagement and corruption.”
-30-
Pinoy Edmonton News 