“I can’t even imagine how this acted. If I were to ask the nurses, patients, and parents…” she said.
“Don’t take away these unfortunate children who endure hell from this small, sweet joy… Our oncology family is dealing with it well.”
Tremblay said the proposed policy was not intended to take patients from food.
“What we intended to change is how food is stored and delivered to patients to reduce the waste generated in our hospitals,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
“I have reviewed this policy submitted prior to my arrival at AHS and after feedback from clinicians, I have decided that AHS will not proceed with these changes.”
Tremblay said the AHS is concerned about misconceptions of the proposed policy and is considering reports that food and drinks may have been unavailable to patients.
“We continue to focus on providing high quality care for all Albertans at the time they need it,” he said.
Alberta Premier Daniel Smith said Tuesday that the intention of the first decision was to change food delivery, reducing food spoilage and waste.
“For some reason, it was implemented in a way that didn’t match what the policy was,” she said at a meeting in Brooks.
“We want to make sure we can save on food waste, but we never deny patients nutrition when they were waiting for treatment or after treatment.”
Smith said it was a misunderstanding of the policy direction that was suspended.
Meanwhile, Alberta’s new Democratic health minister, Sarah Hoffman, issued the following statement:
“The choices they make show that the UCP government is focusing on reduction, chaos and corruption rather than providing care, comfort and compassion for children with cancer.
“It’s cruel to take out popsicles and juice boxes far away from the children undergoing treatment. This is more than just popsicles. It’s supplying something to eat for people who fast for emergency care who may not have the money for food.
“The Minister of Health clearly doesn’t know what’s going on in her department.
“This is what the UCP does all the time. It comes back slightly when you suggest something terrible and the public realizes how bad it is.
“The Albertans are better than this unethical and incompetent government.”
