The $26-million Rockyview Hospital emergency department, starting today is a remarkable enhancement over the previous, overweighed ward, but it still has to cope with the backlog of patients waiting to have acute care beds, witnesses say.

The new, more capacious ER unlocks its doors to patients at the southwest hospital at 6 a. m. Health officers say that it will offer improved privacy for patients and up to date gear for hospital employees.

According to Alberta Health Services Chairman, Ken Hughes, the facility is intended to hurry up the time it takes for patients to seek emergency care and make them more at ease, whilst they are waiting.

He said that it's bigger and they are also making better utilization of the room.

Rockyview Hospital manages almost twice the number of emergency patients its previous ward was devised to put up.

Dr. John Cowell of the Health Quality Council of Alberta said that the new ER will prove useful to those who are waiting for treatment and sent home progress will be more speedy through the system.

He forecasted that it will also provide more comfy surroundings for both patients and workers.

Cowell said, "The jam-up in the emergency department is not because of the emergency department -- it's getting into the hospital. It's the hospital beds that provide that solution".