Alberta Health Services has responded to concerns from a group of physicians at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, as to why redevelopment and expansion plans were dropped off the province's priority list in 2016.

Plans were near the top of the list in both 2014 and 2015 after the hospital was found to be massively under resourced, according to General Surgeon Doctor Paul Hardy.

AHS Chief Zone Officer for the Central Zone, Kerry Bales, said the hospital still remains on the province's capital plan.

“It has been put into future capital projects for consideration and the reason for that is the Central Zone is currently in the middle of undertaking a long range planning exercise,” Bales said.

“We are expecting that will provide more information as to the future needs of the Red Deer Regional Hospital.”

Bales added they will be looking at the entire capacity of the hospital which serves two purposes.

“One is that it actually serves as a community hospital for Red Deer City. As well, it is the only referral centre for the Central Zone as a whole,” Bales explained.

“Those are going to be the considerations that we’re going to look at. How do we meet the needs of Red Deer City itself and how do we fill the needs as a referral centre for the rest of the zone.”

The Red Deer Regional Hospital is the fourth busiest hospital in the province and the only referral center for Central Albertans for nearly every medical, surgical, imaging and lab specialty.

Currently, doctors are hoping as many local residents as possible will turn out to a public meeting, to learn more about the current needs and help evoke action from the province.

The meeting is set for next Tuesday February 28th, at the Baymont Inn and Suites in Red Deer at 4pm.