Alberta Health Services announced plans yesterday to add 3,000 long-term care beds to the province over the next three years — a welcome decision to one patient.
After waiting in the Rockyview Hospital for three months, David Kopp, 50, recently moved into the new Carewest Garrison Green facility, home of 200 long-term care beds.
Kopp, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, said he was thrilled to hear about the beds, because the hospital doesn’t compare to a care facility.
“When they come in to look after you (at Carewest Garrison Green) they ask you what you want and that is just a total flip from the hospital,” he said. “It’s like we come first.”
There are approximately 725 individuals waiting for a spot in the acute care system and additional long-term beds could free up space for them, said Pam Whitnack of AHS.
“In the past year, Alberta Health Services has added more than 400 continuing care spaces to the provincial system but we need more,” she said. “(Adding more beds) will make a huge difference to the feel of occupancy in the acute care hospitals.”
