The UCP government announced $1.8 billion to increase healthcare capacity at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre..The financial injection tag is unprecedented..“The $1.8 billion hospital expansion is the largest in Alberta’s history and the largest taxpayer investment in the history of central Alberta.”.Initial investment will start with $193 million over the next three years for 200 new in-patient beds, bumping capacity up 54%, from 370 beds to 570 beds..The project will include three new operating rooms, (for a total of 14 operating rooms), as well as a cardiac catheterization lab..Completion of the expansion is anticipated to be 2030-31..“For too long, central Albertans have been waiting for these critical upgrades and expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital. That’s why we’ve made expanding the Red Deer Regional Hospital a priority, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” said Premier Jason Kenney..Alberta’s Recovery Plan has already seen healthcare infrastructure built from Grande Prairie to Calgary, and now it’s making sure world-class health care is there for Red Deer and central Alberta for years to come with the largest investment in the history of central Alberta.”.Health Minister Jason Copping said the expansion will improve patient care amid Central Alberta’s growing population..“Red Deer and central Alberta’s growing populations mean our ability to effectively provide health care with the current hospital is limited, resulting in all too frequent disruptions to patient care,” said Copping..“This needed redevelopment will increase capacity and expand services to meet central Albertans’ needs into the future. It’s another example of our government’s commitment to build health system capacity throughout Alberta.”.Finance Minister Travis Toews said the project “is a key component of the Alberta government’s commitment to building health-care capacity throughout the province.”.Education Minister and MLA for Red Deer-North Adriana LaGrange said the expansion was “long overdue” and Albertans “will benefit from increased surgical and in-patient capacity” while the cardiac catheterization lab “will literally save lives.”.Red Deer is Alberta’s third-largest city, and Red Deer County has a population close to 20,000 residents..Quick facts:.• The Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre is the busiest hospital outside of Edmonton and Calgary. It has the fourth-highest volume of any Alberta Health Services’ facility..• Approximately 50% of patients seen at the hospital are referred from communities outside Red Deer..• The hospital offers a full spectrum of acute care including advanced surgery, internal medicine and diagnostics, as well as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology, critical care and emergency care..• $100 million was allocated to the project in Budget 2020..Amber Gosselin is a Western Standard reporter..agosselin@westernstandardonline.com
The UCP government announced $1.8 billion to increase healthcare capacity at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre..The financial injection tag is unprecedented..“The $1.8 billion hospital expansion is the largest in Alberta’s history and the largest taxpayer investment in the history of central Alberta.”.Initial investment will start with $193 million over the next three years for 200 new in-patient beds, bumping capacity up 54%, from 370 beds to 570 beds..The project will include three new operating rooms, (for a total of 14 operating rooms), as well as a cardiac catheterization lab..Completion of the expansion is anticipated to be 2030-31..“For too long, central Albertans have been waiting for these critical upgrades and expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital. That’s why we’ve made expanding the Red Deer Regional Hospital a priority, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” said Premier Jason Kenney..Alberta’s Recovery Plan has already seen healthcare infrastructure built from Grande Prairie to Calgary, and now it’s making sure world-class health care is there for Red Deer and central Alberta for years to come with the largest investment in the history of central Alberta.”.Health Minister Jason Copping said the expansion will improve patient care amid Central Alberta’s growing population..“Red Deer and central Alberta’s growing populations mean our ability to effectively provide health care with the current hospital is limited, resulting in all too frequent disruptions to patient care,” said Copping..“This needed redevelopment will increase capacity and expand services to meet central Albertans’ needs into the future. It’s another example of our government’s commitment to build health system capacity throughout Alberta.”.Finance Minister Travis Toews said the project “is a key component of the Alberta government’s commitment to building health-care capacity throughout the province.”.Education Minister and MLA for Red Deer-North Adriana LaGrange said the expansion was “long overdue” and Albertans “will benefit from increased surgical and in-patient capacity” while the cardiac catheterization lab “will literally save lives.”.Red Deer is Alberta’s third-largest city, and Red Deer County has a population close to 20,000 residents..Quick facts:.• The Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre is the busiest hospital outside of Edmonton and Calgary. It has the fourth-highest volume of any Alberta Health Services’ facility..• Approximately 50% of patients seen at the hospital are referred from communities outside Red Deer..• The hospital offers a full spectrum of acute care including advanced surgery, internal medicine and diagnostics, as well as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology, critical care and emergency care..• $100 million was allocated to the project in Budget 2020..Amber Gosselin is a Western Standard reporter..agosselin@westernstandardonline.com
