Health

Northern Alberta Hamlet Residents Relieved as Maternity Centre Project Advances

Excitement is building in the remote hamlet of La Crete, Alta., as construction plans are underway for a new health and maternity centre. With a population of about 3,800 people, residents have long awaited this much-needed project. Currently, expectant parents have to travel approximately 110 kilometres to the nearest hospital in High Level for deliveries.

The $79-million project, funded by the province and set to open at the end of 2026, will be operated by Covenant Health. The La Crete Maternity and Community Health Centre will offer expanded advanced ambulatory care, low-risk maternity care, and other health services. It will be conveniently located next to an existing health centre and continuing care facility.

Joyce Fehr, who chairs a Covenant Health community board in the area, has been advocating for a new maternity centre for over a decade. She emphasized the importance of having local services for all stages of life, from birth to end-of-life care. Fehr highlighted the high number of births in the community, with over 400 expected per year, and expressed the need to provide a safe and accessible option for expectant parents.

The upgraded facility will not only cater to maternity care but also improve access to primary care and mental health services in northern Alberta. It will include an EMS response facility with ambulance bays to ensure quick and efficient emergency response. The project is currently in the final stages of design, with a contract for a contractor manager expected to be in place by February.

Despite the excitement surrounding the project, there is some concern among officials and residents about the time it took to get the project off the ground. Mackenzie County Reeve Josh Knelson emphasized the critical need for the maternity centre, especially for residents living in the southern part of the municipality, who have to travel long distances to reach the nearest hospital for deliveries.

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The new facility is expected to alleviate stress for expectant parents and provide a much-needed service for the tight-knit community of La Crete. With a high Mennonite population and numerous schools, long-term care facilities, and seniors’ lodges in the area, the new centre will cater to the diverse needs of the community.

As the doors of the new health and maternity centre prepare to open, the residents of La Crete are eagerly anticipating the positive impact it will have on their community. The facility will not only provide essential health services but also bring peace of mind to expectant parents, knowing that quality care is just a stone’s throw away.

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