Alberta Tories promise 140 family clinics

The Alberta Progressive conservatives are promising to establish 140 family care clinics throughout the province over the next three years.

The family clinics would have longer hours and be staffed by teams including doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, dieticians and physiotherapists.

"Albertans need access to health care services in their own community," said party leader Alison Redford.

The Tories will usethree pilot clinics which are set to openEast Edmonton Health Centre,East Calgary Health Centre and Slave LakeFamily Clinic as models.

The PCs did not put a price on the promise, nor say how they would staff the clinics.

The three pilot locations were estimated to cost about $15 million in 2012-13.

Smaller centres around the province have long had difficulties recruiting and retaining health professionals.

Both theLiberals and Wildrose were quick to jump on the promise.

"These three pilot projects aren't even off the ground yet," said the Liberals. "This means that the PCs can't say what they will do, and they won't say how they will pay for it."

In a press release, the Wildrose accused the Tories ofusing taxpayer dollars to construct costly empty buildings with no medical staff to serve patients.

"Buildings dont provide health care,"the Wildrosesaid. "Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals do."