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By Curtis Galbraith

Health

Province says 19 of 50 promised new ICU beds are open

May 13, 2022 | 1:38 PM

The province says Alberta Health Services has opened and staffed 19 of the 50 new intensive care unit beds it promised in their 2022 budget.

Two of those are located at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

“We are moving fast and diligently to add permanent ICU beds where they are most needed. This is outstanding work by AHS to add nurses and medical staff to support these beds that give Albertans access to critical, acute health care when they need it. COVID-19 is still putting pressure on Alberta hospitals, but we’re countering that with a bold plan to ensure our health system is resilient and can respond to any health crisis,” Minister of Health Jason Copping said in a news release from the province.

The government says it allocated $100 million for new ICU beds in it’s latest budget and the other 31 should be open by September.

A release from the province also says AHS has filled 250 staff positions needed as a result of opening the new beds, with plans to recruit for another 425 clinical and support positions.

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Meanwhile, the Alberta NDP says the government is ignoring the problem and treating the symptom.

The Opposition says the province needs more family doctors but instead fights with doctors and nurses.

– with files from The Canadian Press