STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
(Image Credit: Curtis Galbraith.)
By Curtis Galbraith
Healthcare

Surgical volumes back to normal at GPRH says AHS

Jul 20, 2026 | 3:01 PM

Alberta Health Services says normal surgical volumes are now being done at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. 

Many surgeries were postponed in April and May after problems with what is called Medical Device Reprocessing, used to sterilize surgical instruments.  

A mobile unit has been operational since the middle of June. It will be used until the current steam sterilizers are replaced with electric ones. AHS says that work should be finished this fall.  

Alberta Health Services says that 97 per cent of the surgeries that were postponed have been rescheduled or completed. The patients who have not had their procedures yet will be contacted to set up a new day and time. 

AHS also says it reviewed what it calls “high-risk surgical cases” going back two years and found no infections. 

AHS adds, there is now a goal of increasing the number of surgeries done at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital by 15 per cent by the end of September. 

There are 130 surgeries being done each week now, and there are plans to open another operating room this summer.

Anyone with questions or concerns can call AHS Patient Relations at 1-855-550-2555.

by Curtis Galbraith