Big Changes Ahead: Innisfail Hospital Gets a $10 Million Boost

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Exciting $10 Million Expansion Coming to Innisfail Hospital

INNISFAIL – Big changes are on the horizon for the Innisfail Health Centre. The long-awaited and much-needed expansion of the ambulance bay door is finally happening. After numerous calls and efforts since 2022 to get the government of Alberta to address the issue, the province has committed at least $2 million to upgrade the undersized ambulance bay. But that’s not all. An additional $7.7 million is being invested to expand surgical capabilities at the hospital, including the addition of a second operating room and a significant upgrade to the hospital's medical device reprocessing program.

Ambulance Bay Door Upgrade

The undersized ambulance bay door has been a significant concern for the Innisfail Health Centre. According to Suzanne Telford, the site manager at the hospital, this expansion is crucial. "We actually process all of our own instruments, so when you have surgery here, we have a department downstairs where we clean all the instruments," she explained. "We need to expand the size of the equipment and the room to meet the needs of a second operating room."

Currently, the hospital’s operating room is used for cataract surgeries three days a week, performing about 2,600 surgeries annually. The addition of a second operating room will allow the hospital to double that number. "It's amazing," Telford said. "We are so thankful the government is willing to invest in our facility. It's really great for our community."

Major Announcement

The announcement came during a press conference at the hospital on June 21, with Alberta’s Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen in attendance. They shared that the government of Alberta is now committing a $4.5 billion investment over three years to support capital projects, including $512.3 million for the capital maintenance and renewal funding program aimed at preserving and enhancing existing healthcare infrastructure. As part of this investment, the Innisfail hospital’s problematic ambulance bay door became a priority.

"The expansion of the ambulance bay has been approved under the capital maintenance and renewal program," LaGrange said during the conference. "Preliminary costing for the project is approximately $2 million, and additional planning will help us scope out the work and determine what the final cost will be. This project will ensure that the health centre can accommodate larger ambulances while enhancing privacy and increasing protection from seasonal variations in weather during patient transfers."

Planning and Timelines

While planning for both new projects is underway, LaGrange could not provide immediate timelines, stating that the details are in the hands of Pete Guthrie, the provincial minister of infrastructure. "Once the planning stage is done, they'll get to it as quickly as possible, is my understanding," she added.

The ambulance bay issue became publicly known in late 2022 when volunteers from the Innisfail Health Centre Auxiliary approached the town council for a donation to cover the then-estimated $45,000 cost to fix the door, which couldn't accommodate large ambulances. However, when the issue was brought back to the provincial government, namely Alberta Health Services (AHS), local appeals, and efforts from Dreeshen, were initially unsuccessful.

Community Efforts and Persistence

Dreeshen shared his frustration, saying, "AHS officials would tell me that, 'well, if we had to fix Innisfail’s ambulance bay door, we'd have to fix a whole bunch of other rural hospital ambulance bay doors.' It just didn't make sense to me." He praised LaGrange’s understanding and support, comparing her to a star player in the healthcare system.

Innisfail mayor Jean Barclay commended both Dreeshen and the hospital auxiliary volunteers for their relentless dedication to the project. "He (Dreeshen) never gave up on this project," Barclay said. "He always reminded me he was continuing to work on this, even when the public criticized him, and yes, even the Town of Innisfail for not getting this renovation completed. He did not waiver."

The hospital volunteers began their fundraising for the new ambulance door as they celebrated their 50th anniversary. "They hosted tea and strawberry shortcake events and reached out to the local community for assistance to renovate the ambulance bay so an ambulance no longer had to load and unload patients outdoors," Barclay added.

Looking Ahead

With the government’s substantial investment, the Innisfail Health Centre is set to see significant improvements that will enhance its ability to serve the community. The expansion of the ambulance bay will ensure better accommodation for larger ambulances, enhancing patient transfers' privacy and protection from weather conditions. The addition of a second operating room will double the hospital's surgical capacity, allowing for more procedures and reducing wait times.

This development is a testament to the power of community advocacy and the importance of persistent efforts to address local needs. The collaboration between the government, local officials, and dedicated volunteers showcases what can be achieved when everyone works together towards a common goal.

Your Thoughts

What do you think about these exciting changes at the Innisfail Health Centre? Do you agree with the investment and the plans for expansion? Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments below!