December 19, 2022
EDMONTON — Up to 1,200 additional surgical procedures could be performed annually at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women with the opening of an additional surgical suite this past summer at the facility.
The Lois Hole hospital now has five women’s operating rooms, which will improve gynecology care for women across central and northern Alberta by increasing access to general, urogynecology and cancer surgery. The facility, located on the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, also has two obstetrical ORs.
“This is another excellent example of how the province, Alberta Health Services and the community work together to improve obstetrics for all Albertans,” says Jason Copping, Minister of Health. “The additional procedures that can be performed in the new operating room provides better access for several types of obstetrics services.”
AHS Official Administrator Dr. John Cowell says the additional OR capacity will reduce wait times for surgeries, one of four key areas of focus for the organization. The others are improving EMS response times, decreasing emergency department wait times, and developing long-term reforms through consultations with front-line workers.
“The additional OR capacity at the Lois Hole will help our healthcare teams meet increasing demand for women’s surgical services and reduce surgical wait times, giving Albertans their best chance for excellent outcomes and experiences,” says Dr. Cowell. “We are focused on many other initiatives here in Edmonton and across the province to bring surgical wait times within clinically appropriate timeframes for all Albertans.”
Lauren Scott, 27, became one of the first patients to access surgical care in the new OR. The Edmonton resident, who was diagnosed with endometriosis and had her first surgery at 19, was diagnosed with an endometrioma cyst this year.
“The pain was so severe that I couldn’t go to work or even manage daily activities at home,” says Scott. “Many women suffer in silence and don’t access the care they need but, thankfully, I was able to get into surgery quickly in my own community. The whole team at the Lois Hole took such great care of me, I am very grateful.”
Donors to the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation in support of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women equipped the $1.7 million operating suite, which features state-of-the-art technology and can accommodate obstetrical procedures.
“We’re so pleased to share in this exciting announcement of the opening of the new OR inside our women’s hospital,” said Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. “Donor support enabled this expansion, and we are profoundly grateful to a generous community for improving patient outcomes and enhancing the patient and family experience.”
The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation raises funds to continue the many advancements in women’s health being made at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, including the funding of innovative models of care, advanced research, and specialized programs and services.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
