Beginning in April 2024, more patients will have access to surgeries as the Leduc Community Hospital expands operating room hours.
The surgical theatres will now run Monday to Friday, enabling the hospital to accommodate 17 per cent, or around 400, more surgeries each year, Alberta Health Service (AHS) said in a media release.
The additional surgical capacity was made possible with funding from the Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI), jointly developed by the Government of Alberta and (AHS), per the release.
With the ASI funding, the hospital has increased the number of operating room nurses and hours.
“I’m thrilled to see access to surgery increasing at our rural hospitals. Making surgery more accessible in people’s home communities will mean better outcomes and faster recoveries for many Albertans,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.
The extra surgical capacity will also help relieve pressure on other hospitals and surgical sites in the AHS Edmonton Zone.
Leduc Community Hospital provides pre-and post-operative care to patients having minor surgery who will go home the same day. Surgeries performed include ear, nose and throat, urology, orthopedic, neurosurgery, spine, and plastics.
“This is an exciting time for patients and staff of Leduc Community Hospital,” said Heather Durstling, AHS Executive Director of Edmonton Zone Suburban Hospitals.
“With greater surgical capacity, we’re empowering healthcare workers to improve wait times and address the surgical backlog, ensuring people can access healthcare when and where they need it,” Durstling added.
The ASI focuses on improving the patient’s surgical journey, from the time patients seek advice from their family doctor, to when they are referred to a specialist, to their surgery and rehabilitation.