The Alberta government has committed $400 million over the next four years towards a new hospital in southwest Edmonton.
The new health-care facility will be located near Ellerslie Road and 127 Street and is projected to have between 350 to 500 beds.
“Our government is proud to make the dream of a new Edmonton hospital a reality for our growing city. This hospital will be a state-of-the-art facility that will undoubtedly help meet the health-care needs of Edmonton families for decades to come,” Premier Rachel Notley said.
The province said the new hospital will provide health care in an area that is seeing some of the highest population growth in Canada.
“We want to make sure residents in one of Edmonton’s fastest-growing areas are provided medical care as close to home as possible,” Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said.
“This project will make life better for the many families who call south Edmonton home and is another example of our government’s commitment to supporting the critical frontline services Albertans depend on.”
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The location of the future hospital means it’s close to Anthony Henday Drive and the Queen Elizabeth II highway, which will make it accessible. There is also a plan to have the LRT expand to the area before 2040.
“I am pleased to see that this site was selected and this new hospital will be a welcomed addition to our growing Edmonton Metropolitan Region,” Mayor Don Iveson said.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the government of Alberta on our joint infrastructure plans for the area so we can coordinate efforts to best meet the needs of Edmontonians.”
Alberta’s 2017-2018 budget had a pledge for a new hospital in Edmonton. The $4.5-billion health infrastructure plan also included money to modernize and renovate Edmonton’s Misericordia Hospital and build two new facilities at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
An AHS report released in October identified the need for a new hospital in Edmonton to meet demand. It recommended a new Edmonton health campus to include inpatient beds, emergency care, rehabilitation, mental health, diagnostic and ambulatory services.
The report also recommended scaling back upgrades to the Royal Alexandra and Misericordia, both of which have previously been identified as being in need of renovations and repairs. However, the government does plan to move ahead with improvements, marking $65 million to modernize and renovate the emergency room at Misericordia and $519 million over four years for a new child and adolescent mental health building and the Norwood Long Term Care Facility at the Royal Alexandra.
Edmonton hasn’t seen a new adult hospital open in the city since the Grey Nuns Community Hospital opened its doors in 1988.
— With files from Heather Yourex-West, Julia Wong and Tom Vernon
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