Hallelujah moment for Strathmore Hospital

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Great news, the Strathmore hospital is finally getting renovation money from the Alberta government. The hospital will receive $2.8 million dollars via the Alberta Infrastructure Maintenance Program and will begin the long-awaited renovations in September 2016.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman, President and CEO of Alberta Health Services Dr. Verna Yu, and the Director of AHS Rural North Calgary Zone Marilyn McGregor arrived to make the announcement at the hospital on July 13.
Local dignitaries in attendance were Derek Fildebrandt – Strathmore/Brooks MLA, Wheatland County Reeve Glenn Koester, Town of Strathmore councilors Steve Grajczyk and Bob Sobol, as well as Mardell Bazant and Jo Wilson representing the Strathmore Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.
“We would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the facility by the ladies of the Strathmore Ladies Auxiliary. I know that you have put a lot of effort into fundraising and opening programs,” said Dr. Yu.
“We know that we cannot do any of this without all the hard work, commitment and generosity of auxiliaries, our trusts, our foundations and absolutely the communities across the province. It is only through these types of partnerships and relationships with each other that we continue to maintain and improve health services in Alberta. It is a very significant investment, which is a very important part of helping our patients and Albertans stay well. This renovation will specifically improve patient care and access by increasing the number of emergency department treatment spaces to 13 and improving overall space in other areas of the hospital.“
Deputy Health Minister Sarah Hoffman extended her thanks to those involved with the project and expressed her excitement about finally fulfilling a promise that other governments had been unable to provide.
“It’s great to be here today in your front lines. I really appreciate having the opportunity to share this good news together with the member from the other side of the isle (Derek Fildebrandt, MLA),” said Hoffman.
“Strathmore Hospital is proud to serve a high volume of patients in our region,” said Fildebrandt. “Securing these much needed updates to the hospital was my number one commitment made to the people of Strathmore in the last election. I can’t wait for construction to begin.”