Alberta says 19 of 50 new ICU beds are online, but hospitals still under strain

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says his government has made strides in adding capacity to hospitals still straining to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenney says 19 of 50 new intensive care beds promised in the spring budget are available and staffed by new specialists, including nurses and respiratory therapists.

He says Alberta will no longer have the lowest number of intensive care beds per capita once the rest of the promised beds open.

Kenney says that will leave Alberta about average in Canada. Health Minister Jason Copping says even with the new beds, hospitals remain under severe stress due to extra patients with COVID-19.

The Opposition NDP says the province is treating a symptom while ignoring the problem. The NDP says Alberta needs more family doctors, but the United Conservative government's public fights with doctors, nurses over wages and working conditions have resulted in critical gaps in care. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2022.