Alberta gov’t putting $74M toward major upgrades at hospital in Cardston, Alta.

Cardston, Alta., will get a new hospital by way of a massive overhaul of its old one.

Major renovations have been announced for the hospital in the southern Alberta town.

The provincial government is promising $74 million for upgrades over three years.

The province said in a release issued Friday the renovations “will improve access to care, strengthen co-ordination and expand capacity.”

Built in 1959, the facility “no longer meets modern safety, accessibility and infection control standards.”

Premier Danielle Smith said the region “needs reliable access to modern services.”

“The new Cardston Health Centre will replace an outdated facility, expand capacity and improve how patients move through the system,” she said.

“It means families in the Cardston-Kainai region can get the care they need closer to home.”

Friday’s release also noted the Blood Tribe Department of Health “has been invited to collaborate in the functional programming process.”