Hospitals in Alberta now have the 50 new ICU beds that the Alberta government promised.
The announcement was made on Thursday morning at the nursing simulation lab of Mount Royal University by Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Jason Copping.
“We are all aware that the past 2.5 years have caused our public healthcare system to experience unprecedented strain. Not only in Alberta, but throughout the entire Canadian healthcare system, a major capacity shortage was revealed by the public health crisis, according to Kenney.
In March, the province announced the initial addition. 19 of the 50 opened their doors in May. And on Thursday, seven months later, it was revealed that all 50 had begun operating in 12 various hospitals.
ICU is only mentioned if absolutely required, according to Copping. “The nurses and other staff members allocated to the beds will assist other sections of the hospital when they are not in use.
The epidemic has demonstrated the need for increased permanent capacity, additional personnel, and resource flexibility.
The University of Alberta Hospital, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and Sturgeon Community Hospital all gained 18 ICU beds in the Edmonton Zone.
13 new ICU beds were added to the Foothills Medical Center, Peter Lougheed Center, Rockyview General Hospital, and South Health Campus in the Calgary Zone.
Eight more ICU beds were added to the Red Deer Regional Hospital, six more were added to the Chinook Regional Hospital, and five new beds were added to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and the Northern Lights Regional Hospital in the North Zone.
With these 50 additional beds, there are now 223 ICU beds.
AHS records show that on Thursday, there were 188 patients in ICUs across the province, which is higher than the pre-pandemic average but only 88% of the current capacity.
The pandemic high water record to date was set a year ago when 257 COVID-19 patients were hospitalised.
In addition, Kenney disclosed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine government to expedite the hiring of qualified Filipino nurses in Alberta.
A $3. 5 million increase in educational options for nurses with overseas degrees was also announced by the government.
Copping reiterated his pledge to keep increasing the province’s healthcare system’s capabilities, saying that nurses are its “backbone.”
Alberta opens 50 more beds, saying “ICU if necessary, not necessarily ICU.”
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