New Calgary emergency room opens
Posted Jan 14, 2013 6:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The emergency department at the brand new South Health Campus in the deep southeast is now open.
The opening of 30 new emergency room beds is expected to take some pressure off other hospitals in Calgary, which have been operating above full capacity for the past few weeks, dealing with an ongoing outbreak of norovirus and flu cases.
About 90 per cent of the new ER beds are private; according to unit manager Terry Smith that will help control the spread of infectious diseases.
In time, another 30 beds are expected to be added to the hospital’s emergency department.
Also opening this week at the South Health Campus is the Rapid Access Unit, which will treat patients with acute medical problems, mental health emergency services, cardiac diagnostics and the bone and joint cast clinic.
Dr. Colin Del Castilho says after spending the past few weeks gearing up for the opening, staff are eager to treat real patients.
MLA for Calgary Southeast, Rick Fraser, is a trained paramedic and calls it an amazing day for families in his constituency.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to access the department here, not only that but the family medicine that happens here as well,” Fraser said.
The Deputy Government Whip said it’s a great example of collaborative work and people coming together for a common good.
Other departments at the new hospital will be opened in the coming months, with the facility slated to be fully operational by the fall, with almost 270 beds and 2,400 staff.
It’s estimated over the course of the year, some 60,000 people will visit the new emergency room.
