EDMONTON – The Alberta government has scrapped plans to build a second phase of the Strathcona County hospital, saying there isn’t enough demand in the area to justify a full-service, emergency-care facility.
“I’d like to say to residents of Strathcona County I know they are going to be disappointed by the announcement, but we had to make some tough decisions,” Health Minister Fred Horne said Thursday.
“The government made their decision. We don’t like their decision. We’re disappointed in their decision. But I believe that this decision also needs some answers,” said Strathcona County Mayor Linda Osinchuk.
“Our analysis didn’t show that people really needed access to in-patient care. What is needed there is much more robust primary health care and that’s what Phase 1 delivers,” said Horne Thursday.
The yet-to-be completed first phase, set to open early in 2014, is to include urgent-care facilities for patients with broken bones, urinary or ear infections, respiratory illness and cuts that need stitches. There will also be labs and diagnostic imaging equipment.
“Most people in Strathcona County live within 30 minutes of an Edmonton hospital,” added Horne.
The cancelling of Phase 2 is the latest blow to the Sherwood Park facility that has already faced years of delays and controversy.
“This has been a saga for many years and unfortunately it’s been embarrassing,” explained Mayor Osinchuk Friday.
“There is solutions that this hospital – and that’s what I’m going to call it – this hospital that was promised, is now not going to deliver,” she added.
But residents and members of the county council pushed for more services, saying the facility would not truly be a hospital until acute-care beds and surgical suites were added. The province eventually relented, announcing in late 2010 that it would build Phase 2 with an additional $69 million. Construction was supposed to begin shortly after phase one opened.
County councillor Jason Gariepy said the province’s sudden reversal on the expansion is sure to ignite anger in the county.
“This is the single largest broken promise in our community’s history,” he said. “The carrot that has been dangled in front of us was Phase 2. The community puts its trust in the government’s word.
“Without Phase 2, it’s not truly a hospital. It’s a walk-in clinic.”
Asked why the province at one point felt the second phase was necessary and then changed its mind, Horne said plans are updated all the time.
“I’m not sure what the plans were when the project was initially announced. We build the hospitals where the demand for in-patient facilities is warranted.”
“We understand there’s only so much money,” said Mayor Osinchuk. “We understand there is a fiscal crunch, but we also expect some respect and communication back.”
The hospital’s total price tag was $163 million before the cancellation.
With files from Global News
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