Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I

would like to discuss a very sad situation that has come to light about the length of time it has taken for a woman to receive appropriate medical care. The trouble began in December of last year where this individual was experiencing severe migraine headaches. Initially her family doctor thought it was her blood pressure that was the issue. However, she ended up in the emergency ward at Stanton on two separate occasions with severe head pain, where emergency room doctors told her that she

needed to receive a CAT scan as soon as possible. A new family doctor was found, medication prescribed and a CAT scan booked in Edmonton. The CAT scan in Edmonton revealed a brain tumour that obviously needed to be surgically removed. If not removed quickly, that tumour potentially could cause complete blindness. Diagnosis of a brain tumour and a prospect of blindness and brain surgery, as you can imagine, Mr. Speaker, is a very difficult situation for anyone to be put under. The emotional, physical and mental toll it takes on a person is severe. Not only does the individual live with the suffering, her family and loved ones live with watching their mother and wife suffer every day. It has a devastating impact on the family unit. Mr. Speaker, as if this situation was not bad enough, the woman was scheduled to go to Edmonton on May 21st to have surgery to remove

the tumour. Her daughter took unpaid leave to escort her. Her husband took time away from his business at his own expense to be by her side. Another CAT scan was done on the 21st and

surgery was to happen on the 22nd after the CAT

scan. She was advised that the hospital in Edmonton had nothing in their computer regarding surgery. She was told it had been postponed until June. Mr. Speaker, I find it hard to believe that we would subject a woman with a brain tumour, and her family, to the unfathomable position of preparing and being in Edmonton for surgery that doesn’t happen. How is it possible that this can even happen, Mr. Speaker? Why does it take upwards of five months from the discovery of the tumour to have it removed? This should never ever have been allowed to happen, especially to an individual who is already in a fragile emotional, physical and mental state. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you.