First phase of Calgary’s South Health Campus opens

On Thursday, Premier Alison Redford and several ministers took a tour of the facility, which is the biggest hospital in Alberta’s history.

“I’ve got to tell you that to see it in final form and to know there are a thousand people working in this building today is a pretty exciting prospect for the future of our province,” Redford said.

Construction on the $1.3 billion facility began in 2007, and was originally scheduled to open this spring. However, officials faced hiring issues as they tried to find enough qualified workers to actually staff the campus.

Part of the hospital’s mandate is to help Albertans stay well, so they don’t need as much medical care.

“It’s dedicated to preventional and wellness,” Redford explained. “It’s dedicated to community.”

4,000 Calgarians who don’t have a family doctor will be able to see student doctors at the facility, who are supervised by their teachers.

“It was always a deam of mine to work in this new hospital being built in my backyard,” said one medical student. “It’s very exciting to be here.”

When fully operational, the 300 bed facility will include a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services. It will house 180 physicians, 900 nurses and nursing support staff, 600 allied health and support professionals and 900 facility support staff.

Diagnostic imaging clinics are now operational, but the emergency department won’t open until next year. Operating rooms and inpatient beds will follow, then a maternity ward and neonatal unit.