High satisfaction persists amid long waits and limited access, as NDP critic slams UCP response
Alberta’s health care system is under intense pressure but remains supported by strong public engagement and dedicated professionals, according to a new report by the Alberta Medical Association. The inaugural State of Health Care report shows that 90 per cent of adults used the system in the past year, with family doctors and diagnostic services the most common points of contact.
Satisfaction with the care received remains strong, even as many Albertans face delays and difficulty accessing services. Seventy-five per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with their most recent care experience, and 83 per cent rated their last visit with a family physician as very good or excellent. The report emphasizes the vital role of continuity of care, noting that those with regular access to a family doctor tend to report better outcomes and experiences.
Beneath these high satisfaction scores, however, the report highlights widespread strain. Nearly one in five Albertans does not have a regular family doctor, and only 54 per cent of those who do can usually get an appointment when needed. Without adequate access to primary care, many are turning to walk-in clinics and emergency departments, adding to congestion in acute care settings.
Emergency rooms remain under severe stress. About 27 per cent of Albertans visited an ER in the past year, but 58 per cent rated timeliness as poor and 18 per cent left without receiving care. Specialist access is similarly strained: 44 per cent of Albertans saw a specialist in the past year, but 42 per cent reported unsatisfactory wait times. Nineteen per cent are currently on a specialist wait list.
In response to the AMA’s findings, Alberta NDP Health Critic Sarah Hoffman issued a statement Friday sharply criticizing the UCP government. “It’s unacceptable that so many Albertans are without access to a family doctor, and emergency room wait times remain dangerously high, with patients simply getting up and leaving because the wait is so long,” she said. “The UCP government continues to fail Albertans who need timely, reliable health care.”
Hoffman pointed to over one million emergency room visits, many for routine care, as evidence of a system being stretched to its limits. “Despite a promise to improve the system, Danielle Smith’s UCP government has only deepened the chaos, increased the cuts, and allowed corruption scandals to fester in Alberta’s health care system,” she said. “Albertans deserve a health care system that works.”
Amid these challenges, there are signs of progress. The introduction of the Primary Care Physician Compensation Model aims to strengthen Alberta’s family medicine workforce and improve access to care across the province. The AMA report concludes that while Alberta’s system is strained, it continues to function due to the commitment of its health professionals. The path forward, it notes, depends on timely reforms to ensure that every Albertan can access consistent, high-quality care when and where they need it.
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