Construction is expected to finish by summer of 2024. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

Renal dialysis expansion at Chinook Regional Hospital to begin fall 2023

Apr 18, 2023 | 4:45 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The provincial government is expanding services and surgical capacity at the Chinook Regional Hospital to improve health care capacity for residents of the Lethbridge area.

On April 18, 2023, Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Government of Alberta held a media event at Chinook Regional Hospital to officially announce the funding.

The 2023 budget is providing $237 million over three years for operating room surgical initiatives in the province.

That includes $11.2 million to expand the renal dialysis program at the Chinook Regional Hospital, as well as $2 million in 2023 to plan for expanded cardiac services at the Chinook Regional Hospital.

With the extension, the hospital will have one larger operating room and an additional room, as well as five new surgical inpatient rooms. According to AHS, the renal dialysis project will add 28 hemodialysis stations plus two airborne isolation rooms.

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The province said in a media release that this will double the existing surgical procedure capacity.

Infrastructure Minister and Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf said it is an honour to announce critical projects at the city’s hospital.

“Expanding operating space and surgical procedure capacity, addressing the overcapacity challenges for dialysis patients, and planning for future cardiac care programs will ensure people living in and around Lethbridge will have access to the care they need, close to home,” said Neudorf.

Jennifer Crysdale, executive director of Alberta Kidney Care – South said, “This additional funding will directly support patients who require complex and comprehensive care for their chronic kidney disease as well as support our kidney care teams who are committed to providing the highest quality of care at every point in their patient’s journey.”

Construction of the Alberta Surgical Initiative extension at the hospital is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024 and will support around 80 jobs in construction and the trades.

READ MORE: Province investing $2 million for expanded cardiac services at Chinook Regional Hospital