Alberta ramps up acute care with more beds and surgeries

Alberta’s government says its Acute Care Action Plan will deliver immediate relief to hospitals while laying the groundwork for long-term improvements to patient care.

The plan will add more than 1,000 acute care beds in Edmonton and Calgary, including new bed towers at Grey Nuns, Misericordia and South Health Campus hospitals. It also aims to deliver 50,000 additional surgeries over the next three years by expanding operating room capacity through chartered surgical facilities.

“Acute care teams have been working under extraordinary pressure, and I want to thank them for their unwavering service,” Premier Danielle Smith said. “The Acute Care Action Plan delivers immediate relief in our hospitals and builds long-term stability, ensuring Albertans see faster service, increased access and a health system they can count on for years to come.”

Targeted investments at the Royal Alexandra Hospital will enhance triage, speed patient flow and help patients move efficiently through the system. The plan also increases community care spaces, including 12 new psychiatric beds and 30 temporary beds becoming permanent. Officials said these measures will help Albertans in crisis and reduce congestion in emergency departments.

Ministers highlighted the importance of coordination across the health system. “Acute care is only one part of the system – it has to work hand-in-hand with community and continuing care,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services. Rick Wilson, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, added that the plan expands access to mental health supports, a major driver of emergency visits.

The plan also sets six long-term priorities, including expanding surgical access, modernizing emergency services, improving patient flow, supporting health care workers, diverting patients from emergency departments and developing a 50-year capital strategy for hospitals and clinics.

Alberta has already made progress in surgical and physician services. In 2024-25, the province completed 318,920 surgeries, exceeding its target of 310,000. Alberta performs better than the national average for hip and knee procedures and radiation therapy, and physician growth now exceeds population growth.

The province currently has 8,764 acute care beds and a record 12,769 registered physicians.