Major Hospital Expansion in Calgary Adds Nearly 100 New Beds
A significant $151-million expansion project at the Peter Lougheed Centre in northeast Calgary has officially reached completion, according to provincial authorities. This substantial healthcare infrastructure development has successfully added 97 new beds to the hospital's capacity, marking a major enhancement to medical services in the region.
Enhanced Emergency Services and Clinical Spaces
The newly expanded facility includes dedicated space for 28 emergency department beds alongside upgraded clinical areas designed to improve patient flow and create a better environment for both patients and healthcare staff. According to Minister of Infrastructure Martin Long, these improvements represent a strategic investment in healthcare infrastructure that directly benefits community wellbeing.
"Stronger communities are built on strong infrastructure," Long emphasized during a media briefing at the centre. "And health-care infrastructure is one of the most important investments we can make."
Provincial Healthcare Investment Strategy
This expansion represents one component of a broader $25 million provincial initiative to expand and upgrade healthcare services across Alberta, with particular focus on emergency medical services. Following the completion of this project, the Peter Lougheed Centre will now accommodate 159 beds plus four training beds, significantly increasing its capacity to serve Calgary's growing population.
The provincial government has indicated that the expanded facility will become fully operational by February 24, with recruitment of healthcare professionals for the centre already underway throughout the past year.
Additional Healthcare Investments Across Alberta
In related healthcare developments, the province recently announced a $2 million investment to expand an in-patient tower at the Alberta Children's Hospital. This project is expected to add 42 acute care beds and 10 mental health care beds, representing a 32 percent increase in capacity according to Minister of Hospitals and Surgical Health Services Matt Jones.
This investment has been matched by the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation to support construction of a new research centre at the hospital, demonstrating collaborative approaches to healthcare infrastructure development.
Future Healthcare Infrastructure Plans
Looking forward, provincial authorities have outlined ambitious plans to add more than 1,000 new beds to healthcare facilities in both Calgary and Edmonton as part of a comprehensive acute care action plan. The government is also developing a 50-year capital plan to ensure adequate staffing and workforce capacity to meet the needs of Alberta's expanding population.
These initiatives complement existing investments including a $1.8 million regional hospital redevelopment plan that will add 200 beds, six operating rooms, and an ambulatory building. Additionally, the province has committed $15 million to plan eight urgent care centres across Alberta and $5 million over two years to support health services funding in North America.
"It ensures patients receive timely care and that health-care professionals have purpose-built spaces that they need to provide excellent care," Jones explained regarding these comprehensive investments. "This reflects our commitment to building a stronger health-care system."
