With $4.25 million from the Alberta government’s Rural Health Facilities Revitalization Program, Alberta Health Services (AHS) will open and operate a new larger dialysis unit on the Saskatchewan side of Lloydminster with enough stations to provide renal dialysis to 24 patients from both provinces with kidney disease.
“No matter where you live in Alberta, it’s important that your health-care needs can be met as close to home as possible. Kidney disease doesn’t respect provincial boundaries, so we’re happy to work with our provincial neighbour to the east to make sure more people living in the Lloydminster area – no matter what side of the border – don’t have to drive far for treatment and dialysis. This project helps make that a reality, and is part of our commitment to manage and improve health infrastructure and services across Alberta.”
“This makes sense for the health of patients and families in both Saskatchewan and Alberta who need this life-saving care. We’re pleased to lend space from our health system for a new dialysis clinic that will improve patient care, treatment and satisfaction.”
“This commitment to expand and relocate the dialysis unit has been long-awaited in Lloydminster and the region. It will free up space in the Lloydminster Hospital for other priorities. We can add this accomplishment to a growing list of problems being dealt with by this Health Minister, and I am happy to support him in that.”
“I look forward to even more chairs opening in the future to better care for the growing number of people facing kidney disease in our community in eastern Alberta. Everyone in and around Lloydminster deserves access to this quality life-saving service.”
Right now, the renal dialysis unit at the Lloydminster Hospital has five chairs that provide kidney dialysis to 20 hemodialysis patients: six from Alberta and 14 from Saskatchewan. The hospital dialysis unit has no room to grow, but has eight patients on its wait-list for treatment. Those patients currently travel to Edmonton, St. Paul and Saskatoon for treatment, since the dialysis units nearest to Lloydminster – North Battleford 139 kilometres to the east and Vegreville 147 kilometres to the west – are already serving all the patients they can.
In order to provide more treatment, the dialysis unit will move out of the Lloydminster Hospital to a medical space in the Prairie North Plaza on the Saskatchewan side of the city. AHS will operate the new six-chair unit, in collaboration with Saskatchewan Health Authority, with more room between dialysis chairs to improve patient safety, reduce concerns around infection control and improve both the patient experience and working conditions for staff.
The dialysis clinic will be able to serve 24 patients at the highest need for dialysis close to home. Space for an additional three dialysis chairs will also be shelled in for future capacity needs.
“Projects like these help ensure our programs and facilities keep pace with the needs of patients and families and provide care as close to home as possible. This will improve options and access to care for people living with kidney disease.”
The project is expected to begin in the coming months. More detailed timelines will be shared once the work is underway.
The Alberta government’s $50-million commitment to the Rural Health Facilities Revitalization Program, including $45 million in Budget 2021, enables AHS to complete infrastructure projects over the next three years at rural sites.
Quick facts
- Budget 2021 provides a three-year, $3.4-billion commitment for health-related capital projects and programs, including:
- $2.2 billion for health infrastructure projects, including:
- $45 million over three years ($15 million each year) for the Rural Health Facilities Revitalization Program, on top of $5 million provided in 2020-21.
- $143 million for five new projects in La Crete, High Prairie and Calgary.
- Continued investment to complete ongoing projects such as the Calgary Cancer Centre and the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.
- $2.2 billion for health infrastructure projects, including:
- $766 million for Alberta Health Services self-financed capital for parkades, equipment and other capital requirements.
- $343 million for capital maintenance and renewal of existing facilities.
- $90 million for health department IT projects.