Chinook Regional Hospital is getting $320 million for its cardiac catheterization lab and intensive and cardiac care units. Alberta’s government announced the allocation of funds to the Lethbridge health centre Wednesday afternoon. “Being able to have it here and continue to grow that to serve the needs that everyone in southern Alberta is just a tremendous achievement,” said Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf. “I’m very grateful to anyone and everyone whose put their shoulder behind this to get it going. I’m very proud of government to be able to fund this after many, many years.” The money is meant to “redevelop the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab and expand the intensive care unit and cardiac care unit.” That means increasing the capacity for cardiac services and expand the number of bed spaces in the ICU from 16 to 26 spaces. The CCU will also expand from four beds to 28, bringing total bed spaces to 54. “We’ve always known that the government is stepping up and in to be a partner, but we are so thrilled to have the signage up and to be able to look at the reality of, ‘Oh my goodness, here we go’,” said Crystal Elliott, Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation CEO. The province said design work will begin this month, and construction will begin in October 2027. It’s expected to be completed by the end of 2031. Elliott says the funding injection could be lifesaving for many southern Albertans, who she says have a 30 per cent chance risk of “actually dying from a cardiac event.” “We have a 15 per cent higher risk of actually having a cardiac event and that’s due to a multitude of reasons, but one is reduced access to services,” she said. Neudorf says having this project funded will hopefully help reduce that risk for those living throughout southern Alberta. Over the coming years, the province will approve funding from the $320 million through its yearly budget for different phases of the project. “The money has been set aside for this and project is moving forward,” Neudorf told CTV News. “It’s being designed, it’s being built and it’s being invested in.” The announcement comes as the Chinook Regional Hospital surpasses its Bringing Hearts Home campaign goal. Launched in Sept. 2024, the campaign aimed to raise $30 million in 30 months to bring cardiac care to southern Alberta. To date, the campaign has raised more than $32 million. “I have never seen a community come together like I’ve seen this community come together in the last 24 months,” said Elliott. While the target has been reached, Elliott says the foundation is continuing to accept donations to help strengthen advocacy efforts for a cardiac centre in Lethbridge. “We really truly are going to bring southern Alberta from having the worst cardiac care to having the best,” said Elliott. The project will support almost 1,800 jobs.
