Province announces $59 million investment for expanded services
By Lethbridge Herald on March 3, 2026.
Herald Photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Premier Danielle Smith announces an investment of $59 million over three years to expand cardiac services and intensive care capacity Monday at Chinook Regional Hospital.By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
Premier Danielle Smith was at the Chinook Regional Hospital Monday, to announce the provincial budget investment of $59 million over three years into expanding cardiac services and intensive care capacity in Southern Alberta.
The announcement was made alongside Minister of Treasury board and finance Nate Horner, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Matt Jones, MLA for Lethbridge-East Nathan Neudorf and lead physician of the Cardiac Sciences for the Alberta Health Services South Zone Dr. Sayeh Zielke.
“Our government recognizes that no matter what budgetary pressures we are facing, investing in the health of Albertans is a non-negotiable line item. This has been a top priority for us,” said Smith.
She recognized that any illness involving the heart is a race against time and the very last thing a sick patient needs is a long journey to a bigger faraway centre for treatment or diagnostic testing.
“We want to deliver faster intervention for Albertans in this situation and in other situations of acute medical need. And that’s why I’m pleased to announce today that we’re investing $59 million over three years to expand cardiac services and intensive care capacity in Southern Alberta,” said Smith.
She explained that funding will be directed towards Chinook Regional Hospital here in Lethbridge and to Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.
“These are both important regional healthcare hubs in southern Alberta. They serve patients in the cities where they’re located, as well as residents living in the surrounding communities in rural areas,” said Smith.
She said Chinook Regional Hospital serves a catchment area of more than 150,000 people which includes residents of Lethbridge. She classified the city as one of Alberta’s fastest growing cities, saying that we added more than 10 per cent to our population in just the last five years.
“It’s been clear to our government that more capacity is needed both here in Lethbridge and throughout the region, and that’s why we previously provided funding to introduce a catheterization lab at the Chinook Regional Hospital and to begin planning for a Medicine Hat Urgent Care Centre,” said Smith.
Minister Horner added that this investment moves the South Zone Cardiac and Intensive Care expansion project forward into its next phase and bring specialized care closer to the people who rely on it.
“A new cardiac catheterization lab at Chinook Regional Hospital will significantly improve access to life saving treatment right here in Lethbridge,” said Horner. “It means faster diagnosis, earlier intervention and quality care delivered closer to home.”
Dr. Zielke said the announcement was historical for cardiac care in our region, but she made it clear that it was not just about infrastructure and budgets, but about patients.
“For years, too many patients and families here have faced a stressful reality. In the most urgent moments, care often means transfer time on the road and being far away from home and support and their families,” said Zielke.
She said the reality is that sometimes they can’t save a life because they don’t have access to the same lifesaving services locally.
“I remember each of my patients that I have lost vividly. Patients who were too unstable to be airlifted, patients where the window was closing, and families who were terrified because they knew that the care they needed was too far away,” said Zielke.
She said in part, the announcement was about them, about their memory, and in their honour, to be able to build a system where what happened to them happens less.
20-19
Answer me this, Danielle Smith. Is that where the $32 million you siphoned out of AISH recipients, or will if you have your way come July, going? You still haven’t answered that question yet
Appealing to the reptilian brain, the premier dangles a pretty bunch of carrots – magical carrot dust being sprinkled all over the province.
excuse me? You are taking my job sprinkling magic around. LOL. But, serious note we are getting an expansion on the dialysis unit because of the number of patients coming in. They’re at near capacity right now. There’s talks that there might be even nocturnal care, which is good because even though you are there for 6 hours instead of 4, it’s not as hard on the kidneys with the machine, and could improve lifestyle for patients that could work. Also, some of the current nurses are looking into working the nightshift. The thing is, if there’s not enough, where are we going to get the money to hire more reliable nursing staff for that department?