LaGrange confirms capacity strain after neonatal doctors sound alarm [Video]

Alberta’s health minister says the province has “a bit of strain” in neonatal intensive care unit capacity but that there are beds available across the province.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange made the comments Wednesday after Edmonton doctors released an open letter to her and the provincial health-care delivery agency raising concern vulnerable babies are at risk in units that have been too full and had staff stretched too thin.

“What I’ve heard from Alberta Health Services is in fact that we do have capacity. There is a bit of strain on the capacity right now,” said LaGrange at an unrelated news conference.

LaGrange said no babies have been airlifted out of Edmonton or the province for care for seven years.

“My greatest concern is for babies to make sure that they’re safe. And so, if we need to at some point do that, we will do that,” said LaGrange.

The …