c
Edmonton
airing now
101.7 FM
|
88.1HD2
airing now
8.85 c
Edmonton
airing now
101.7 FM
|
88.1HD2

Alberta says 19 of 50 new ICU beds are online, but hospitals still under strain

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS, May 13, 2022 6:29 PM - REPORT AN ERROR

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says his government has made strides in adding capacity to hospitals still straining to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenney says 19 of 50 new intensive care beds promised in the spring budget are available and staffed by new specialists, including nurses and respiratory therapists.

He says Alberta will no longer have the lowest number of intensive care beds per capita once the rest of the promised beds open.

Kenney says that will leave Alberta about average in Canada. Health Minister Jason Copping says even with the new beds, hospitals remain under severe stress due to extra patients with COVID-19.

The Opposition NDP says the province is treating a symptom while ignoring the problem. The NDP says Alberta needs more family doctors, but the United Conservative government's public fights with doctors, nurses over wages and working conditions have resulted in critical gaps in care. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2022.

Latest News

Share on

Sign up for the newsletter
We'll deliver best of entertainment right into your inbox
We love to hear from our listeners, so feel free to send us message
whatsUp icon
Message us on whatsapp