Alberta’s Minister of Health said on Friday that the province is planning to establish nine new urgent care centres across the province.
Alberta’s Minister of Health said on Friday that the province is planning to establish nine new urgent care centres across the province.
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The Alberta government says it will spend $17 million to plan nine new urgent care centres across the province.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says the centres will be smaller than hospitals and designed to treat people with urgent but non-life-threatening medical needs, such as broken bones.
The only urgent care centre in Edmonton, seen here on Friday, March 28, 2025, was closed because of broken pipes.
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Alberta has six urgent care centres in operation and LaGrange says the new facilities would help reduce emergency room wait times in hospitals.
She says the funding is earmarked for cities across the province, including Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Airdrie and Lethbridge.
LaGrange says the locations were chosen based on demand in hospitals and expected population growth.
She says each centre will be publicly funded and operated by Alberta Health Services except for the one in Airdrie, which is to be run by a private contractor.
“I hope we can see the facility doors open as quickly as possible,” LaGrange said.
“It all depends on how quickly the planning can get done.”
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