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An expanded health clinic in the northern hamlet of La Crete will allow more mothers to give birth in their community, the Alberta government says.
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As part of the province’s 2022 budget, the United Conservative government in February $46 million announced over three years for the The Crete Maternity and Community Health Centre, part of $2.2 billion in new health-care capital spending over that period.
On Sunday, the province said the project — which will be attached to the existing continuing care facility — will be under Alberta Health Services (AHS) ownership and operated by Covenant Health, with an anticipated total spend of $79 million.
The government offered only ballpark estimates for completion, saying the plan is to complete the project “in about five years.”
“Maternity health services will include ultrasounds, prenatal classes, a lactation program and a birthing center led by midwives, to help mothers with low-risk pregnancies give birth closer to home,” the government said in a Sunday news release.
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The center will replace the existing, space-strapped AHS facility and in addition to maternity services improve access to mental health treatment, primary and allied health care. The ultimate fate of that centre, the La Crete Community Health Centre, is still to be determined.
“The new health center will also include space for family doctors, mental health services and therapists, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Additionally, it will include a larger EMS response facility with four ambulance bays and four single residential apartments for visiting clinical staff,” the news release said.
The Northwest Health Center in High Level will continue to be open to La Crete residents for high-risk pregnancies and C-sections, the government added.
La Crete is about 670 km northwest of Edmonton and is home to about 2,911 people.