Parkland County residents raise $3 million for CT scanner at Stony Plain hospital

STONY PLAIN · A fundraising campaign in Parkland County aims to bring a CT scanner to the WestView Hospital and Continuing Care Centre in Stony Plain, Alberta. The WestView Health Foundation has raised more than $3 million toward its $5.1 million goal. The machine would eliminate the need to transfer over 200 patients each month to other hospitals for scans. "It really is about securing sustainable health care for our diverse communities," said Tammy Brent, the foundation's executive director. She said the transfers are an inefficient use of resources that add stress for families during medical crises.

The hospital serves the largest geographic area among 11 Alberta Health Services facilities in the Edmonton-region corridor, covering communities including Spruce Grove, Onoway, Wabamun and four First Nations. Brent said a scanner at WestView would be the only one available around the clock from west of Edmonton to the British Columbia border. The provincial government has agreed to provide $3.8 million annually for operational costs like staffing once the machine is installed. "Alberta's government recognizes the importance of improving access to diagnostic imaging closer to home," the office of Hospital and Surgical Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a statement.

Stony Plain resident Daylene Hanasyk is supporting the campaign following the loss of her husband, Curtis. Last year, Curtis experienced a severe headache but initially carried on with his day, bringing coffee and pancakes home for his family before Hanasyk went to work. When his pain worsened, he drove himself to WestView Hospital. Hanasyk said the facility lacked the resources to address his symptoms, and he suffered a stroke before an ambulance could transfer him to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.

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Hanasyk believes a local CT scanner would not have altered her husband's ultimate diagnosis of a severe tumor. However, she said it would have provided precious time. "We didn't just lose Curtis that day, but [also the] time we could have had," she said. She described CT scanners, which use X-rays to create detailed internal images, as essential for the community. "Something's medically wrong and we're asking for help and we're not receiving it," Hanasyk said. "It’s impactful."

Brent expressed confidence the community will meet the multimillion-dollar fundraising target. "We will absolutely make our goal," she said. "It is a lot of money for our community and it's the largest campaign that we’ve run. However, it's more than a piece of equipment." The provincial government has started the process to hire a contractor for the project. The ministry statement said the CT scanner at WestView Hospital is expected to be operational in 2028.

With files from CBC News