Doctors
On arrival, all military personnel and dependants must report to the RAO with their passport and visa to facilitate their application into the Alberta Health Care System. A card with a unique number will be sent through the post, and this must be carried with you at all times – this card can take up to 8 weeks to arrive. It is this card which entitles you to free health care in Canada. The card will only cover you for the length of your visa. The Alberta Health Care System is similar to the NHS, but you must produce your card whenever you attend any medical facility for treatment.
All military personnel will use the Medical Centre at CFB Suffield. Dependents can register with the clinic in Ralston Village or other clinics closer to their SFA in Medicine Hat, Calgary or Cochrane. Out of hours medical provision in Canada is provided by walk-in clinics or at the local hospital. On arrival in BATUS, married accompanied personnel will need to fill in a form requesting that the medical notes on their families are sent from their previous doctor or GP. These forms are available from the Medical Reception Station (MRS) in CFB Suffield. In line with health provision to military dependants, prescriptions are free.
- From Ralston, the nearest hospital is in Medicine Hat, which is approximately 35 minutes away. The hospital in Calgary is 2-½ hrs away. You cannot claim travel or subsistence allowance. If you are planning to go on holiday to other provinces within Canada, or outside Canada, or are taking part in skiing or other dangerous activities when on leave, you are strongly advised to take out private medical insurance. It is not possible to treat all medical conditions in BATUS. If a member of your family is currently being treated for a medical condition please contact the British Military Medical Officer on 1 403 544 4180 to confirm that treatment is available in BATUS. In line with current protocol, the MOD will not fund fertility treatment in BATUS
A British Military Dental Team provides dental care at BATUS. The clinic is located within the MRS. The range of service is equal to that provided by the NHS. Dental treatment is provided within guidelines comparable to those of the NHS and charges for treatment will be raised in accordance with NHS fees unless exemptions apply. These charges will be recovered from the military head of household. Dental treatment for dependants in Calgary and Cochrane is provided by a local dentist, however, all dental treatment other than emergency treatment must be pre-authorised by the BATUS dental centre.
- Military personnel are required to be dentally combat fit prior to arrival at BATUS. All military personnel as well as dependants in Ralston and Medicine Hat will be treated at BATUS regardless of where they live. Individuals with orthodontic treatment in progress are to contact their nearest military Dental Centre as soon as possible upon receipt of their posting order to BATUS to initiate approval process for continuation of this treatment in BATUS. It may also be helpful to bring a copy of your dental records with you.
SSAFA
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help. There is a full time SSAFA Health Visitor and part time SSAFA Health Visitor Assistant stationed at BATUS who are located in the Community Centre in Ralston Village. The SSAFA Health Visitor can be contacted on 1 403 544-5572. The SSAFA Health Visitor offers a full Health Visitor service to families and their children ensuring continuity for families moving to Canada. Contact with the Health Visitor also ensures that any outstanding needs can quickly be addressed through support, liaison or referral, as appropriate.
There is excellent maternity care available to pregnant women in Alberta, however there is no community midwifery service. The SSAFA Health Visitor carries out antenatal visits and is able to offer help and advice. Immunisations are offered on a monthly basis at Ralston or appointments can be made at clinics in Medicine Hat or Redcliff. The immunisation schedule is slightly different in Canada and additional protection is offered against pneumonia and chickenpox but all British immunisations are available for all children.
The SSAFA Health Visitor visits BATUS families living outside Ralston Village although the opportunities to use additional community resources are also available. The SSAFA Health Visitor is available to everyone and will be happy to see anyone who requires help or support from this service.
- If you are pregnant or have children under 5 on arrival in BATUS, please contact the
health visitor as soon as possible after you arrive here. There are no midwives in Canada – doctors perform this service.
There is a Unit Welfare Officer (UWO) located in the Community Centre in Ralston Village. The UWO is available for all welfare concerns. If you wish to discuss a welfare issue prior to arrival in Canada, please phone 001 403 544 4772.
Army Welfare Service
The Army Welfare Service provides a confidential, non-discriminatory support service that responds appropriately to the needs of our service community. We will give guidance and support to soldiers and their families on a wide range of problems, explaining the available options. We are located in the Community Centre in Ralston Village and can be contacted on 001 403 544 4790. The AWS also has a website full of useful information including the Army Welfare Information Service (AWIS), which provides fact sheets on subjects that concern service families.
There is a HIVE Information Office at BATUS located in the Community Centre in Ralston village. The HIVE Information Officer can be contacted on 1 403 544 4600. The HIVE supports the tri-service community through the provision of an impartial information and referral service. Within BATUS this information service offers a wide range of information on unit and civilian facilities, employment and training opportunities, education, housing and welfare as well as general information for all the service community. The HIVE in BATUS produces a monthly newsletter which is delivered to all BATUS personnel, as well as producing and maintaining the BATUS Information Channel which is broadcast via BFBS TV to all personnel in Ralston Village and CFB Suffield during the day time. HIVE information can also be accessed via the HIVE website, by e-mail on batushive@hotmail.com or batus@hivegb.co.uk or by phoning the number above.
Military Families Resource Centre (MFRC)
MFRC’s are run as ‘not-for-profit’ organisations on behalf of the Department of Defence, Canada to support military families in all Canadian bases. They are very similar to HIVE in being able to provide information about CFB Suffield and the wider area, and it also offers clubs and activities for both adults and children.
The MFRC Suffield’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of the community, and its goal is to enable families to become full participating members of the community through the provision of programs and services. Although the MFRC is a Canadian organisation, it provides services to all personnel and their dependants whether Canadian or British at CFB Suffield. The main MFRC office is located in the Community Centre in Ralston Village, but there is also a satellite office in Medicine Hat. The services that the MFRC provide can be explored on their website. The MFRC provides a welcome brief, as well as a ‘meet and greet’ session for all arriving families. Amongst other things, the MFRC provides many craft and sporting activity courses, runs youth club, ‘Kiddie Kare’, the school lunch programme and employment assistance.
For further information the following websites may be useful:
CFB Suffield MFRC - CFB Suffield Military Family Resource Center
Ralston, Alberta
SSAFA - The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families’ Association
Other Welfare sites - OneStop
HIVE website
MFRC website
AWS website