AHS website shows no hospital distruptions throughout South zone
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 31, 2021.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews An AHS website set up to address controversies over some rural bed closures this summer shows no disruptions in the South zone, including Medicine Hat. Alberta Health Services says that across the province, all but about 2% of the 8,500 acute care and 1,200 emergency room beds are currently available. An interactive map available on the AHS website shows normal operation status at facilities throughout the Southeast and areas around Lethbridge, which comprise the South zone. The Calgary zone, including the city and areas from Claresholm to Didsbury also shows no changed status. However, eight centres in the Central zone, including Hanna, show a “space reduction,” two in Edmonton or St. Albert and 16 facilities in locations in the North zone are experiencing “temporary bed shortages,” including Grande Prairie. The issue became a hot political topic this month when the opposition NDP charged that the closures were a sign of critical understaffing, while Health Minister Tyler Shandro said they were typical of the summer months when staff take vacation. AHS states closures occur for a variety of reasons including vacations, construction and other factors and the agency plans accordingly. EV cash for Enmax, Epcor Two municipally-aligned power companies in Alberta’s major cities will share $310,000 in federal funding to install electric vehicle charging stations at transit hubs and city recreation facilities, it was announced Thursday. Enmax and Epcor will also contribute a total of $455,000 toward the construction of 24 stations in Calgary and 20 in Edmonton, respectively. The federal money comes from the Ministry of Natural Resources fund for the Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure program. 13-12
