Province warned to free up more ER beds before system collapses

The president of the Alberta Medical Association's emergency medicine unit has fired off a letter to both the premier and the health minister.

The Calgary Herald reports it contains an urgent warning that if more space in emergency rooms is not created, the system could soon collapse.

Dr. Paul Park writes "overcrowding in our province today is worse than it has ever been."

Emergency room doctors say Albertans have every right to be worried.

The Executive Director of the Friends of Medicare tells 660News, he's not surprised to hear about the dire warning.

David Eggen says the government only has itself to blame for the poor state of health care by gutting health care services 20 years ago.

Eggen says hundreds of more acute and long-term beds and more staff needs to be added to the system before something tragic happens.

Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky acknowledges he has received the letter and says the province is in the process of adding more beds, hoping that will not only reduce wait times but will improve patient care.