Lethbridge-East NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro (left) and Lethbridge-West NDP candidate Shannon Phillips (right) announce a commitment to expand cardiac services at Chinook Regional Hospital, April 12, 2023. (Photo: Alberta NDP)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Lethbridge NDP candidates commit $20 million to cardiac expansions at Chinook Regional Hospital

Apr 12, 2023 | 4:55 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Two provincial political candidates in Lethbridge have made a major campaign commitment to hospital infrastructure and services in the city.

Lethbridge-East NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro and Lethbridge-West incumbent Shannon Phillips announced $20 million for expansions to cardiac services at Chinook Regional Hospital (CRH) under an Alberta NDP government.

Miyashiro said heart disease is the leading cause of death among southern Albertans, so having more services offered locally is of critical importance.

He explained that the investment would allow for “new interventional cardiac services and more diagnostic services, more cardiologists, more catheterization, allowing doctors to see and eliminate deadly blockages.”

Alberta Health Services (AHS) reported that the Heart Function Clinic at CRH reached capacity in May 2022. The agency added that 1,300 patients on average in the south health zone have to travel to Calgary for services such as cardiac MRIs, ablations, angiograms, and angioplasties every year.

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Phillips adds, while the Lethbridge area has grown rapidly in recent years, health services in the region have been reduced.

She said this commitment would get the city back on track with being able to offer high-quality care.

“This is a real commitment, based on what we know over a period of years and the studies that have already been done and listening very carefully to the community, both healthcare professionals, patients, patient advocates, and actually reading the documents that AHS has, in fact, prepared,” said Phillips.

Earlier Wednesday, AHS announced a $2 million expansion of cardiac services at CRH. It would focus on six priority areas, including a cardiac catheterization lab, clinical cardiology, cardiac imaging, cardiac device services, cardiac ambulatory diagnostics and procedures, and prevention.

Phillips said the announcement from the UCP-led provincial government was “nothing more than a flimsy gimmick,” as it was not included in the 2023 Budget, which was announced back in February.

“They put out some fake money in response to the fact that we were going to make a real commitment. That’s all this is,” said Phillips. “This is just paper commitment on their part. Ours is real health care and cardiac services in an emergency for the people of Lethbridge.”

Phillips also took aim at Premier Danielle Smith’s public health guarantee announcement this week. Smith had committed that, “Under a re-elected UCP government, no Albertan will ever have to pay for a doctor out of pocket.”

According to Phillips, Smith’s announcement was “laughable.”

“[Alberta NDP Leader] Rachel Notley does not need to stand in front of a piece of cardboard with a gimmick because she has a trusted record on healthcare and people know that they can trust the NDP to deliver on healthcare,” said Phillips.

The provincial election is scheduled to be held on May 29.