The Alberta government in Canada has announced a $20m investment over three years to build a stand-alone Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton.
This funding aims to address the growing need for specialised paediatric care in Edmonton and northern Alberta due to the rising population.
Currently the second-largest children's hospital in Canada with 236 beds, the Stollery Children's Hospital experiences one of the highest inpatient volumes in the country.
The proposed facility will provide additional beds, larger clinical spaces, additional private rooms and dedicated areas for children and their families.
It is also expected to offer enhanced teaching spaces and advanced technologies.
In 2021, the Alberta government initiated funding for the project with a $1m investment, matched by the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation.
The latest budget for 2024 includes $17m in new funding, adding to the previous year's $3m, totalling $21m in government funding over four years.
The development plans for the new hospital encompass mental health resources, virtual care, research, and training units to support patients and boost their health outcomes.
Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation interim CEO Karen Faulkner said: “This remarkable investment will take us one step closer to our goal of building a reimagined Stollery Children’s Hospital for the future.
“A new Stollery is poised to provide the most innovative, modern and family-centred physical and mental health care to help bring hope and comfort to kids dealing with serious illness and injury.”
The Stollery Children's Hospital serves an area of over 500,000km2, reaching as far as the Northwest Territories.
Nearly 40% of its inpatients come from outside the Edmonton area, making it the primary children's hospital for Northwest Territories’ residents.
Alberta health minister Adriana LaGrange said: “A new, stand-alone children’s hospital will build capacity and enable health care providers to continue delivering world-class care to children.
“This investment, as well as other capital investments outlined in Budget 2024, is an example of how we are creating a more unified and efficient health care system for Albertans. I look forward to sharing more details soon.”
