Planning for new Beaverlodge health facility moves forward

BEAVERLODGE – Plans are moving ahead for a new health care facility in Beaverlodge, replacing one of the oldest hospitals in the province owned and operated by Alberta Health Services.

The decision to move forward with planning follows the work and recommendations of the 2016 Beaverlodge Health Services Taskforce, a group that included both municipal and physician leadership and was jointly led by AHS, as well as Beaverlodge Mayor Leona Hanson.

“This next step in the planning process follows significant engagement with the community, and we are extremely grateful to all of those people who participated, in turn helping us to plan a facility that best fits the needs of Beaverlodge and surrounding areas,” said Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO, AHS.

“The residents of Beaverlodge and neighbouring communities have advocated for a new facility for a very long time. Their healthcare needs were ignored for far too long by the previous government,” said Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health.

“Even now some members of the opposition would cut healthcare to address economic challenges. Finally patients and their families from the Beaverlodge area are seeing results because our government is committed to protecting the healthcare services this community depends on,” said Minister Hoffman.

Planning work can now begin for a new health facility on land donated by Doris McFarlane, who worked as a nurse in Beaverlodge for 35 years and has long dreamed of having a new healthcare facility built on the approximately 20-acre site.

“The land was donated with hope for a new site and services for the community – we knew we had to help; the land was a good place to start,” said Doris McFarlane.

“This was truly a community effort. It is clear that the people of Beaverlodge and from our surrounding communities deeply value access to healthcare services in the community, and I welcome this exciting news,” said Mayor Hanson.

More than 1,000 people completed a survey related to healthcare services and needs in Beaverlodge, and close to 150 people attended an Open House in September to provide input into the community’s healthcare needs.

Renovations currently planned for the Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital will continue. Those building improvements, valued at more than $2.5 million, include renovations to address flood damage, and replacement of the roof, nurse call system, fire alarms and security system and are necessary to maintain the existing facility in the interim.

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.

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