Foundation invests $750,000 to enhance local healthcare

BROOKS – The Brooks and District Health Foundation has committed to investing $750,000 with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to support what has been identified as the city’s greatest healthcare need.

The funds will be used to equip and furnish 14 new long-term, palliative and convalescence care spaces being added to the Brooks Health Centre in order to address the community’s aging population. The facility currently has no dedicated palliative or convalescence beds.

“AHS is grateful for its partnership with the Brooks and District Health Foundation. The foundation has shown outstanding commitment to improving healthcare in Brooks,” says Katherine Chubbs, AHS Chief Zone Officer, South Zone. “We understand significant efforts have gone into fundraising in Brooks, and we applaud the foundation and local residents for this. We appreciate their support in enhancing healthcare in the community.”

The additional beds will provide an opportunity for local patients currently residing in long-term care facilities outside of Brooks to transfer to the Brooks Health Centre.

“We are always monitoring the healthcare needs in our communities in consultation with staff, physicians and the public,” says Chubbs. “Increasing bed capacity in Brooks means that more patients seeking care will have the option to remain closer to home.”

AHS has committed to providing ongoing operational dollars to ensure there is appropriate staffing to accommodate additional patients. Construction to make room for the additional beds is set to begin this fall, and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2020.

“Our foundation has always been committed to supporting the greatest needs within the community of Brooks and being prudent with the funds entrusted to our care,” says Diane Declerq, Chair of the Brooks and District Health Foundation. “These beds will enhance services here and support our population well into the future.”

AHS and the Health Foundation have worked together closely to ensure that the money raised by the Brooks community would stay within the community to be spent on its residents’ greatest healthcare needs. The Brooks Health Centre currently has 28 acute care beds, nine sub-acute beds, 15 long-term beds and 10 beds in the emergency department.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.