Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta is set to significantly expand its urgent healthcare network with a $39-million investment aimed at establishing nine additional urgent care centres. The expansion is expected to increase the province’s urgent care capacity by 150 per cent and help redirect as many as 300,000 emergency department visits annually.
Announced on November 9, the funding will cover planning and land acquisition for the proposed facilities. Once all nine centres become operational, Alberta’s urgent care network will grow from six locations to 15, giving residents more opportunities to access same-day treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening medical conditions.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the expansion would provide families with additional treatment options while reducing the pressure on hospital emergency departments. She emphasised the need to ensure Albertans receive timely and quality healthcare when required.
The proposed centres will serve communities experiencing rapid population growth, rising demand for medical services or gaps in existing healthcare access. Locations identified for the new facilities include west and south Edmonton, the Stony Plain-Spruce Grove region, east Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Cold Lake, Fort McMurray and Sylvan Lake.
Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said the government intends to develop purpose-built facilities that can meet current healthcare requirements while accommodating the needs of Alberta’s expanding population. He described suitable infrastructure as an essential part of improving healthcare delivery.
Dr. Sayeh Zielke, interim chief executive officer of Acute Care Alberta, said the additional facilities would support efforts to improve patient flow and address congestion in emergency departments. The organisation will work with government and healthcare partners to make effective use of the expanded capacity.
The announcement is particularly significant for Sylvan Lake, where a recent assessment identified a new urgent care facility as the preferred option for strengthening local services. Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen said the centre would help meet the needs of the growing community and provide residents with access to treatment closer to home. Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hanson also welcomed the investment, saying it would benefit the town and surrounding region.
The initiative forms part of the Alberta government’s wider plan to improve healthcare accessibility across the province. By expanding urgent care services, the government aims to ensure patients with non-life-threatening conditions can receive appropriate treatment without adding unnecessary pressure to emergency rooms.
