Construction work on the Cariboo Memorial Hospital has begun. The redevelopment will improve access to care for residents of Williams Lake and the surrounding area, including the First Nations communities of the Secwépemc, Tŝilhqot’in, and Dãkelh Dené.
“The redevelopment of the Cariboo Memorial Hospital represents a significant investment in the Cariboo-Chilcotin communities’ health and well-being, now and into the future,” said Adrian Dix, minister of health.
The project includes a three-storey addition, as well as renovations to the existing facility. The redevelopment will add 25 new beds for a total of 53. This includes a new medical/surgical inpatient unit with 36 beds (an increase of 16), a new mental-health and substance-use inpatient unit with eight single-occupancy rooms, a patient-seclusion room and an expanded ambulatory-care and oncology unit with 16 renovated treatment spaces.
There will be a new emergency department with 23 treatment spaces (an increase of 12), two trauma-treatment bays, a seclusion room, an ambulance carport and a separate public entrance.
As well, the new addition will have an expanded maternity and women’s health unit with four single-occupancy rooms for maternity care, two nursery rooms and two women’s health beds in private rooms. The maternity area will allow parents to stay in the same room with their babies until they are ready to go home.
The pharmacy will be expanded, providing additional space for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. An interfaith sacred space will allow for traditional cultural and healing practices. There will be 71 new parking stalls.
Construction of the hospital will happen in two phases. The first phase, which will include the three-storey addition, is expected to finish in 2026. Phase 2 will start after that, will include further renovations and is scheduled to be complete in 2029.
The project budget is $366.5 million and will be shared between the province, Interior Health and the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District.
Graham Design Builders was awarded the contract in February 2023.
