News Release

Planning begins for Strathcona hospital expansion

Alberta’s government is investing $3 million over three years to begin planning an expansion for the Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park.

Investing in projects like the Strathcona Community Hospital will make sure Albertans get the care they need when and where they need it most.

By providing quality public health services in modern health facilities built and planned around the needs of Albertans, including children and families, Alberta’s government is showing its commitment to providing affordable and sustainable care for future generations.

Budget 2023 invests in planning to expand the Strathcona Community Hospital, including what new clinical services are required for the site, project scope, expansion costs and other associated details.

“By investing in the Strathcona Community Hospital expansion, we are investing in the health and well-being of the community and people who need access to high-quality health care services close to home. Funding in Budget 2023 will start the planning process to expand the hospital so it can continue meeting residents’ needs for decades to come.”

Jason Copping, Minister of Health
As planning advances, the expansion project will be eligible for funding consideration in future budgets.

The Strathcona Community Hospital, which opened in 2014, serves Sherwood Park, Strathcona County and surrounding residents with 24-hour emergency care, on-site diagnostic services, ambulatory care clinics, a complex rehabilitation program, chronic disease programs and addiction and mental health programs. Patients have access to private counselling, group sessions, community services and a Domestic Abuse Response Team.

“One of the top concerns I hear from Strathcona County residents is about an expansion of our local hospital. I’m excited about this funding commitment, which is an important step forward to improve health outcomes locally and to ease pressures on surrounding hospitals and clinics.”

Nate Glubish, MLA for Strathcona-Sherwood Park
“I am overjoyed that Budget 2023 includes funding for the planning phase of the Strathcona Community Hospital expansion. For years residents have made clear that they desire an expansion of our local hospital, and understandably so. I am pleased to see that the government is taking the steps needed to ensure Strathcona County’s health care needs are met, which includes this hospital expansion.”

Jordan Walker, MLA for Sherwood Park
Budget 2023 secures Alberta’s future by transforming the health care system to meet people’s needs, supporting Albertans with the high cost of living, keeping our communities safe and driving the economy with more jobs, quality education and continued diversification.

Quick facts
Budget 2023 includes $18 million over three years for planning multiple health capital projects across the province, including the Strathcona Community Hospital.
The Strathcona hospital sees more than 46,000 patients in the emergency department annually and the ambulatory clinic provides specialty care for about 21,400 patients annually.
Ambulatory clinic services include intravenous therapy, wound care, infectious disease, neurology, surgery, geriatrics, orthopedics, pediatrics and emergency transition care.
There are more than 46,750 annual visits to the diagnostic imaging department. Diagnostic imaging services include a CT scanner and X-rays available 24-7.
About 80 per cent of patients who visit the hospital are from Sherwood Park and Strathcona County, with the remainder from Edmonton and other nearby communities.

News Release

Bill Tonita, Alberta NDP candidate for Strathcona-Sherwood Park, and Kyle Kasawski, Alberta NDP candidate for Sherwood Park, made the following statement in response to the government’s update on Phase Two of the Strathcona Community Hospital:

“I’m pleased to see that there is some money for planning the next phase for our hospital,” Tonita said. “But the UCP’s record on actually delivering these projects is one of complete failure. Over four years, they have made no progress at all on their promises for the Red Deer Regional Hospital or the South Edmonton Hospital.

“If we want Phase Two of the Strathcona Community Hospital to actually get built, we need an Alberta NDP government,” Tonita said.

“Investing in our healthcare facilities is important. The most pressing problem in healthcare in Alberta is the severe staffing shortage created by Danielle Smith and the UCP. Ambulances in our community are getting sucked into overwhelmed emergency rooms in Edmonton, and we can’t even keep the hospitals we already have open,” Kasawski said.

“I’m very proud of the Alberta NDP plan to connect a million Albertans with a family doctor and a Family Health Team. We will also launch the largest healthcare worker recruitment program in the history of Alberta.”

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