A standalone Stollery Children’s Hospital is another step closer to becoming a reality for northern Alberta
EDMONTON — The Government of Alberta is making children’s health a top priority in its 2024 spring budget. The government announced $20 million over three years to advance plans for a modern, standalone Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. In addition to $17 million in new funding, the UCP invested $3 million in 2023 plus an initial $1 million in 2021. The previous $4 million was matched by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“A new, standalone children’s hospital will build capacity and enable health care providers to continue delivering world-class care to children,” says Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange. “This investment, as well as other capital investments outlined in Budget 2024, is an example of how we are creating a more effective, unified health care system for Albertans.” LaGrange adds that the government remains committed to expanding and modernizing hospitals and facilities to provide Albertans with high quality health care while increasing system capacity and supporting frontline health care workers.
“This remarkable investment will take us one step closer to our goal of a reimagined Stollery Children’s Hospital built with kids and families in mind,” says Interim President and CEO, Karen Faulkner, with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “A new Stollery is poised to provide the most innovative, modern, family-centred physical and mental health care to help bring hope and comfort to kids dealing with serious illness and injury.”
A new facility will provide added beds, larger clinical spaces, more private rooms, state-of-the-art technologies and dedicated areas for children, youth and their families. There will be opportunities to consolidate mental health services, virtual health resources and pediatric research and training while making sure that health care providers, caregivers and parents have the necessary resources to best support patients.
“A new Stollery Children’s Hospital is urgently needed to provide dedicated care for our children,” says Stollery mom, Shelley Cormier. “By separating kids from adults, a standalone Stollery ensures a nurturing environment and the most modern pediatric equipment and resources to offer families like ours a healthcare space designed exclusively for our children.”
Since 2001, the Stollery has become the most specialized children’s hospital in Western Canada, serving as the hub for pediatric cardiac care and a leader in solid organ transplants. It’s the second-largest children’s hospital in Canada by bed count and serves a geographical area of more than 500,000 square kilometres, providing specialized care to the four western provinces and three territories. Last year, the Stollery had 324,425 patient visits, 54,649 emergency room visits and performed 10,965 pediatric surgeries. Close to 30 per cent of Stollery patients come from outside the Edmonton area.
Contact:
Katherine Sweet, associate vice-president, strategic partnerships, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
Phone: 780.238.2727 Email: katherine.sweet@stollerykids.com