An online survey suggests that nearly 20 per cent of St. Albert residents don’t have access to a family doctor.
Of 613 people who answered an online survey, 493 had a doctor and 120 didn’t. The City of St. Albert conducted the survey as part of its physician attraction task force.
The results would extrapolate to almost 12,000 residents, a telling stat, said Coun. Cathy Heron, who organized the survey.
However, the survey isn’t scientifically valid because it was conducted online, she stressed.
Mayor Nolan Crouse established the task force last year and it met for the second time in May.
While having no scientific validity, Crouse thinks the survey results reinforce what he already knows.
“We know that there are doctors retiring. We know there’s a shortage,” he said. “We’re going to continue moving forward.”
Also among the results, half of respondents resort to the Medicentre when they can’t see their doctor, while one in 10 seek no treatment at all.
Most residents wait more than a week to get an appointment with their doctor and 27 per cent reported that they are looking for a new doctor.
The vast majority of respondents — 79 per cent — indicated that they visit a doctor in St. Albert. Most of the others — 19 per cent — said they travel to Edmonton. Next on the list was Spruce Grove with 1.5 per cent.
A scientifically accurate survey could be done for about $12,000, but no one on council was interested in pursuing that idea.
The physician attraction task force will use the survey results in its effort to form a strategy to attract doctors and medical developers.
“We’ve created the political momentum. Whether or not it takes root remains to be seen,” Crouse said.
He wants the City to help with doctor attraction but doesn’t want to spend money on it.
“It’s really the private sector that’s going to make this happen. All we can do is open doors and be barrier-busters,” he said.
A common belief among some on the task force is that a comprehensive medical facility, similar to one located in Spruce Grove, is needed in St. Albert, to attract more doctors.
Coun. Malcolm Parker is heading up a sub-committee that’s looking into the potential for more development of medical facilities.
His subcommittee has met with a private medical developer who has provided knowledge about what’s needed to develop a project of this magnitude. So far, there are no plans in the works.
A key element to making something happen is a political champion to push it forward, he said.
“We have to make sure we stay focused and not let this fall off our plate,” Parker said.
ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS
