As the anticipated fall provincial election draws near, Alberta premier Ralph Klein has said the province will fund a much-needed hospital in the south of fast-growing Calgary. The amount of funding will depend on how much is raised within the community.
The 350- to 400-bed acute care facility is expected to cost $500 million. Yet the Calgary Health Region has not received any confirmation in writing from the province and has not ruled out developing the new hospital as a P3. No detailed design work is planned until funding is confirmed.
Meanwhile, the first P3 health care facility in Calgary opened last month. The South Calgary Health Centre is a partnership between the health region and Bentall Real Estate Services. The health region, which spent $10 million in provincial funding to equip and furnish the centre, has signed a 10-year lease for the $23 million project.