$1.8 billion announced for Red Deer hospital expansion

Feb 23, 2022 | 10:58 AM

RED DEER, AB – Premier Jason Kenney announced a $1.8 billion expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Wednesday morning.

This is the largest hospital expansion in Alberta’s history and the biggest taxpayer investment in central Alberta.

Today’s news comes after Kenney announced $100 million for the expansion project in 2020.

“For too long, central Albertans have been waiting for these critical upgrades and expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital,” says Kenney. “That’s why we’ve made expanding the Red Deer Regional Hospital a priority, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is. Alberta’s Recovery Plan has already seen healthcare infrastructure built from Grande Prairie to Calgary, and now, it’s making sure world-class health care is there for Red Deer and central Alberta for years to come with the largest investment in the history of central Alberta.”

To begin with, $193 million over the next three years will see 200 new in-patient beds being installed, which will increase hospital capacity by 54 per cent to 570 beds.

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The hospital will also have three new operating rooms, bringing the total to 14, as well as a new cardiac catheterization lab.

Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston says this funding announcement is huge for the community.

“This is a monumental day for our city and for the central Alberta region. It is with extreme gratitude that we recognize the provincial government for this significant investment in the care of central Albertans.”

Outside of Calgary and Edmonton, the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre is the busiest medical centre in the province and has the fourth-highest volume of any AHS facility.

This is a breaking news story. More to come…

by rdnewsNOW Staff