OLDS - The provincial government plans to renovate surgical suites and support areas in Innisfail and Olds hospitals if its 2024-25 budget passes in a bid to increase surgical capacity.
Budget 2024 includes $313 million over three years for the Alberta Surgical Initiative Capital Program, which would add and expand operating rooms across the province.
“By delivering Alberta Surgical Initiative projects in communities throughout the province, we are increasing surgical capacity, shortening surgical wait times and ensuring Albertans can get the treatment they need closer to home,” said Minister of Infrastructure Pete Guthrie in helping to announce the province’s surgical plans during a press conference Tuesday.
“This is not just an investment in our health-care system, this will also support thousands of construction-related jobs across our province.”
The program is part of the government’s plan to increase surgical access across the province.
The investment, said Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange, will help increase capacity and improve use of existing capacity at facilities in both urban and rural communities across the province.
Olds and Innisfail hospitals are among facilities in 10 communities slated for renovations. The others include Brooks, Calgary, Crowsnest Pass, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Rocky Mountain House and Taber.
During Tuesday’s press conference, government officials also noted $305 million has been budgeted for Alberta Health Services to perform 310,000 surgical procedures this year – an increase of nearly six per cent from 2022-23.
