New Grande Prairie hospital dogged by naming flap

The name awardeda new hospital inGrande Prairie, Alta.,is an insult to donors and threatens thehospital'ssupport in the community, say health-care workers.

The Shields Health and Education Centreis named after Tom Shields, a local realtor and a long time organizer for the Alberta Progressive Conservative party who diedin April 2011 at 69 after complications related to a 2004 kidney transplant.

Shieldswasasupporter of former premier Ed Stelmach's leadership bid, helping organize his campaign in northern Alberta.

"Donors are insulted," said Dr. Miloslav Bozdech, president of the regional medical staff association. "We depend on donors big time to buy equipment and instruments for the operating room."

The $520-million project, expected toreplace the QE II Hospital in 2015,will include a state-of-the-art cancer centre, 200 acute-care beds, and a health-care training facility.

Donor vows no more donations

Grande Prairie businessman Doug Marshall, who donated half the money needed to purchase a new MRI scanner, said thehospital should not be named after any family.

Marshall told CBC News he will not make any further donations if the hospital keeps the name.

"We object because one family is honoured when so many have given so much and, as far as I can tell, the Shields family has given nothing," said Dr. Liam McGowan, head of anesthesiology at the Queen II Hospital.

About 400 medical staff signed a petition protesting the nameand sent it to government ministers, said McGowan.

They were told the issue would be dealt with after the election.

"We should vote for someone else, then we won't have to worry about what they'll do after election," said Bozdech.

No one from Alberta Health was made available to comment.