The Government of Alberta has provided more details on proposed funding for healthcare in southern Alberta. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Province clarifies funds for Lethbridge cardiac & ICU facilities is for planning

Apr 3, 2025 | 1:33 PM

The Government of Alberta has announced a few more details about new healthcare funds for southern Alberta.

Its proposed 2025 provincial budget includes $5 million to improve urgently needed healthcare capacity in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

In a news release, they clarified that some of that money will go towards “detailed planning to prepare the cardiac catheterization lab for construction in a future budget.”

Alberta Health Services adds that last year, a needs assessment for cardiac services in the region recommended the construction of new intensive care beds at Chinook Regional Hospital and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, as well as the development of interventional cardiac services in Lethbridge.

Once planning work is completed, it is anticipated to add 34 ICU beds in Lethbridge and eight in Medicine Hat. They will have the ability to be ICU or lower-acuity beds, depending on the hospital’s needs at any given time.

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Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf says, “Every heartbeat matters in saving lives. I’m so grateful the Lethbridge cardiac catheterization lab project is being accelerated to ensure patients can get the care they need, faster and closer to home.”

A private fundraising initiative is ongoing for the Southern Alberta Cardiac Centre of Excellence in Lethbridge. One family donated $500,000 to the facility, while the 30th Annual Care from the Heart Day Radio-A-Thon raised $473,804.

READ MORE: $500,000 donation to Lethbridge cardiac centre

READ MORE: $473K raised at Radio-a-Thon for Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen says he is grateful to see such strong levels of support for improving local healthcare.

“Increasing the scope of cardiac services in our city has been a top advocacy priority for several years. On behalf of Lethbridge city council, I want to thank everyone involved in making this a reality,” says Hyggen.

The province estimates that the cardiac catheterization lab in Lethbridge will help an estimated 1,500 to 1,700 patients every year once it is operational.

Other health-related announcements in the Alberta budget include a new urgent care centre, $39 million over three years for the University of Lethbridge Rural Medical Teaching School, and $22 million over three years for renal dialysis at Chinook Regional Hospital.

READ MORE: Funding announced for new urgent care centre in Lethbridge

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