Alberta Health Services reverses course, says childhood cancer patients wont be deprived of food [Video]

Outrage from parents that Alberta Health Services (AHS) would no longer be offering popsicles, ginger ale or juice boxes to paediatric cancer patients appears to have resulted in the health agency backing away from some planned changes to its food and drink policies.

A copy of the memo detailing the changes, issued by AHS on March 17 and obtained by Global News, stated that “patient food services will no longer supply food to non-inpatient areas, such as diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, IV clinics, etc.” Instead, it adds, “clinics are encouraged to remind patients to bring snacks, meals or money for food purchases.”

The changes were supposed to take effect on April 1.

Parents complained to Global News that AHS was taking away food items that are critical to help patients, such as childhood cancer patients, deal with the trauma of chemotherapy and other forms of treatment.

However, in a statement issued Tuesday morning from Andre Tremblay, …