A surge in births over the past decade is putting a strain on Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.

Health Minister Dustin Duncan toured the facility on Friday, met with staff and discussed challenges facing the health region.

A decade ago, 1,100 to 1,200 babies were born in the hospital each year.

However, now around 1,500 babies are born in the hospital each year and Duncan says these numbers are becoming a problem.

“Obviously more babies are delivered at Victoria Hospital than it was designed for so that puts some pressures on the hospital here,” he says.

He adds there are also problems finding enough space to house visiting family members.

Duncan says in the future they will have to look at ways of handling this increased demand for service.