The people who run Alberta Health Services took members of the media on Saturday to showcase five new transitional beds at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. They say they will help cut wait times in emergency rooms. But some are wondering if this is the area most in need.

John Koroluk has been in and out of hospital since June. He was most recently in an acute care bed for nine days. He is now one of the first in a new transition bed; however he says it's not where he wants to be.

"I'd like to get to St. Michael's as quickly as possible," says Koroluk. "My wife is there. She still recognizes me so I would like to get there."

Koroluk tells CTV News there is no room there. His story is the same as countless others waiting for long term care.

It's estimated 10 to 15% of acute care beds are occupied by seniors who should be somewhere else. However, that acute bed being used causes a block felt all the way down to the emergency room.

"Because of the pressure we have been facing over the last few months," says AHS acting President and CEO Dr. Chris Eagle. "We thought we have to do more and faster and this was quick to do."

Dr. Eagle got a first hand look at the new transition unit, which frees up acute care beds while they wait for long term care beds, which critics have been demanding.

"We have these units that we can bring of very quickly," says Dr. Eagle. "If you're going to build long term care beds, it can take two to three years to build a long term facility."

He tells CTV News that they wouldn't be able to bring that capacity in place fast enough here in our city and in Calgary.

Until that happens, seniors like Koroluk will wait in a different area, relieving pressure on emergency rooms.

"We need them badly," says Koroluk. "With the situation that is developing, we really need them."

The province says they have a plan to bring 1300 long term care beds online. 49 new transition beds will be online in Edmonton by early next year.

AHS will hire 80 new staff for those beds which are currently in the process of becoming online. Until them, casual staff will take care of the unit. The undertaking will cost nearly 10 million dollars.

With files from CTV's Kevin Armstrong…