Alberta's Minister of Health didn't offer any specifics when answering a question about increasing cardiac care in Central Alberta.  

Sarah Hoffman was in Sylvan Lake yesterday to announce plans to expand the town’s community health center to incorporate after hours care and expanded services for non-life threatening emergencies.  

Hoffman said while it's understandable Red Deer wants a catheterization lab, other parts of the province are also interested in expanded heart care.

“I’ve met with the Mayor and chatted on the phone as well with local MLA’s from Red Deer and with some of the physicians in the community,” Hoffman explained.

“There’s a provincial strategy being developed, I’m really proud that we do have world class facilities in Edmonton and Calgary and we’re looking at finding ways that we can meet the health needs as close to home for as many people as possible.”

A campaign to bring a cardiac catheterization lab to Red Deer was launched back in October after local physicians started an online petition drawing attention to a previous AHS report which showed people in this region who have a heart attack had a higher mortality rate than those living in Alberta's two major cities due to limited treatment.

Currently doctors have started a Facebook group and say the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation has already raised 10 million dollars to build the catheterization lab.

An online petition has also been launched at https://centralabcathlab.ca/