Health Minister Doug Currie was in the hot seat today when the Opposition Tories focused all of question period on concerns over the closure of rural dialysis clinics, as well as wait times in addictions and mental health.

Opposition MLA Hal Perry sparked fireworks when he grilled Currie on why no consultation was held on government’s announcement last week to discontinue offering hemodialysis treatment in Souris and Alberton.

He said the residents of Souris and West Prince are being treated as second class citizens when it comes to health care.

Currie reiterated statements he made when questioned on this issue last week, saying continuing dialysis services in four locations across the province is not sustainable.

“We’ve seen in the last three years a 75 per cent increase in the demand on dialysis,” he said.

“We are responding to the demand, but it’s unrealistic to expect that we’re going to have services of that nature and that magnitude in every community in this province. It’s not sustainable.”

Currie pointed out expansions that have been made to the Charlottetown and Summerside hospitals and said Islanders who need dialysis treatment will now be receiving state-of-the-art care.

“We know that if the member for Tignish-Palmer Road is in cardiac arrest at two o’clock in the morning, where does he want to be heading to?” Currie said.

“Definitely not in an ambulance ride an hour away,” Perry shot back.

During another part of question period, Opposition health critic James Aylward questioned Currie on the 2012 auditor general’s report where the lack of an overall plan to address increasing problems in mental health and addictions in the province was identified.

Aylward said he has received countless calls from Islanders who need services in these areas but are told there are long waiting lists and no beds.

“They don’t know where to turn, they don’t know what to do. They feel abandoned,” Aylward said.

“Minister, can you tell us what we can tell these individuals?”

Currie said he too has been getting calls and emails and even messages via social media from Islanders expressing the same concerns. He reiterated government’s commitment, announced in the recent throne speech, to conduct a comprehensive review of the current needs in mental health and addictions. That review will include a plan for improving access and wait times.

“This government recognizes we are facing unacceptable wait times and challenges with mental health and addictions. We realize the complexity of addictions today is different than it was five years ago,” he said.

“(Health P.E.I.) has undertaken a review called ‘A Pathway Forward’ where they’re looking at initiatives and efficiencies.”

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