New Edson Hospital at risk of becoming a saga.
I’ve deliberately refrained from jumping into the new Edson Hospital debate because I wanted to see if the project would turn out like I expected. I think it has.
After much campaigning and what seems to be a very long time ago, in terms of the state of the new economy we are in now, the good to go sign was given to the new Edson Healthcare Centre project in 2012 with a budget of $186 million. Whitecourt that had, I thought, as much of a case for a new hospital looks to have been put on the back burner possibly for a long, long time. Maybe never. Anyway, the new Edson Hospital just remains to be opened now, which seems to be subject of some debate, and we have a turning circle too (roundabout to over the ponders like me).
At the risk of sounding a bit controversial I was a little surprised to see the project get the green light. I’m from the UK and you know what? I thought that compared to what I was used to in small town Britain the existing hospital facilities in Edson looked and still look pretty good to me but that’s by the by.
Getting back to my first point. The building is up and almost ready to open. Here’s the rub or rubs. Firstly, correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t recall seeing any sign of the Edson Doctor’s transferring over to the new hospital. Secondly, building the structure and fitting it out with all the fancy gizmos that go ping is another. A lot of money will be required. Especially when the economy has fallen off a cliff. I expect this process to be a dripping of funds rather than a flow. Thirdly, staffing. I’ve seen this before with a new hospital. It’s tough attracting
staff that you need to an out of city environment and sometimes tougher keeping them. I hope this affair does not become or become more of a saga.