Alberta is preparing for increased demand on hospitals during the 2026-27 respiratory virus season, with more than 221 hospital spaces opened across the province and another 194 temporary spaces being prepared for activation if needed, according to the provincial government.
The government said 102 spaces have opened in Edmonton and 79 in Calgary, with additional capacity established elsewhere in Alberta. The temporary spaces could be activated if demand exceeds existing hospital capacity.
Premier Danielle Smith said the measures are part of a provincewide action plan intended to expand capacity, improve patient flow and ease pressure on emergency departments during the respiratory virus season.
“We’ve expanded acute care capacity to the highest level in Alberta’s history, and we’re taking further steps to prepare our hospitals for respiratory virus season,” Smith said. “We can’t prevent every seasonal surge, but we can make sure our hospitals have the space, resources and flexibility to respond so Albertans can get the care they need.”
Provincial officials said efforts to help patients transition from hospital to home care or continuing care have created capacity equivalent to 175 acute-care beds over the past year. The work includes the Homecare and Hospital to Home Pathway, an initiative involving Acute Care Alberta and Assisted Living Alberta.
The organizations are working to help patients move into appropriate care outside acute-care hospitals, including continuing care and home-based supports. The aim is to make hospital beds available for people who require acute treatment.
Acute Care Alberta has also established a Provincial Integrated Operations Centre to help hospitals coordinate available beds, staffing and other resources. The centre brings hospital teams and provincial experts together to identify capacity, manage resources and help patients receive appropriate care closer to home.
Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Nathan Neudorf said supporting patients after they leave hospital is an important part of preparing for seasonal demand.
“Preparing for respiratory virus season means making sure patients have support beyond the hospital,” Neudorf said. “Assisted Living Alberta is helping more Albertans return home safely or move into continuing care, opening up hospital beds for patients who need acute care.”
The province is also introducing a Triage Liaison Physician program that will place physicians in busy emergency department waiting areas. Working alongside clinical teams, the physicians will assess patients earlier, identify signs that a condition may be worsening and help initiate testing or treatment when appropriate.
Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said the action plan includes measures intended to support patients and health-care workers as demand increases.
“We’ve been working closely with our health partners to better prepare our hospitals for respiratory virus season,” LaGrange said. “This action plan brings together a number of practical steps, including increased capacity and new clinical triage teams, that will make a real difference for patients and our health care teams.”
Hospitals across Alberta are also introducing automated daily staffing reports to help managers identify staffing gaps and determine where additional support is needed. The province said the reports will give hospitals a clearer picture of staff availability and help front-line managers spend more time focusing on patient care.
Acute Care Alberta CEO Dr. Sayeh Zielke said collaboration has helped the health system respond to unpredictable demand while giving front-line workers more support and flexibility.
Acute Care Alberta will monitor hospital capacity and patient flow throughout the respiratory virus season. Established triggers will guide additional measures if pressures increase, the province said.
The province is also encouraging eligible Albertans to get immunized against seasonal respiratory illnesses.
Influenza immunization is free for all Albertans aged six months and older. Publicly funded COVID-19 immunization is available to eligible Albertans.
Publicly funded respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination is available year-round to eligible older adults and First Nations, Métis and Inuit people aged 60 and older.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, eligibility expanded to include certain high-risk adults aged 18 to 69, including people who have had a lung or hematopoietic stem cell transplant, receive dialysis or require chronic oxygen therapy.
Eligible adults can arrange RSV vaccination through participating pharmacies or physician clinics, subject to program eligibility requirements.
Albertans can check their eligibility and find current immunization booking options through the Alberta government’s respiratory virus vaccination guidance. Depending on the vaccine and their age, they can book through Primary Care Alberta, contact a participating pharmacy or public health clinic, or call Health Link at 811.
