The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Shaun Penner

Healthcare Assistance

Canadian Red Cross sending medical personnel to to assist in Grande Prairie

Oct 12, 2021 | 1:28 PM

Public Safety Canada says the Canadian Red Cross is sending medical personnel to Grande Prairie and other parts of the province to help with the healthcare system crunch caused by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a tweet sent out Friday afternoon, the federal agency says two Red Cross members will be sent to Grande Prairie, with another two being sent to Red Deer.

This comes as part of the medical assistance request made by Premier Jason Kenney, which will see up to 20 members of the Red Cross come to assist at hospitals in Alberta through the fourth wave of COVID-19.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as ICU-trained personnel from Newfoundland and Labrador, are also offering assistance to the province’s overwhelmed medical system due to the high number of COVID-19 patients needing critical care.

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READ MORE: Alberta to receive help from Canadian Armed Forces, others to alleviate hospital strain

“Red Cross medical personnel are now deployed in Alberta, as of today (Monday, October 12), with additional Red Cross support arriving in the coming days and weeks, as determined by Alberta Health Services,” said a Canadian Red Cross spokesperson, in an email to EverythingGP.

“Up to 20 Red Cross medical personnel will augment or relieve existing staff working in hospitals, in such locations as Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Wainwright, and Lacombe.”

The capacity in which the Red Cross members will be working in Grande Prairie was not detailed.

As of Thursday, there were 250 patients in intensive care in Alberta battling COVID-19, which is beyond the province’s normal capacity.

Public Safety Canada adds the Red Cross deployment is being funded by Public Safety’s new Humanitarian Workforce Program.

“We are always ready to help Canadians across the country during difficult times, and this pandemic has been no different,” said Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

“The Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Red Cross, and health professionals have stepped up time and again over the past 19 months to answer the call to protect people, and I want to thank all those on the front lines who continue to keep Canadians safe.”