Construction is underway on a new acute care tower, the next phase of the redevelopment of Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.
“This project will increase the hospital’s capacity by approximately 50 per cent, help ease congestion, introduce advanced medical technologies and enhance the working environment for health-care workers,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The work being done will make sure people continue to get the public health care they need for current and future generations at B.C.’s oldest hospital.”
The tower will add more beds for intensive care, cardiac intensive care and surgical patients. There will also be a new, larger emergency department with a satellite medical imaging unit, with two radiology suites, an ultrasound suite and a CT scanner. This will allow patients to have a number of diagnostic procedures without needing to leave the emergency department.
The tower will have four more operating rooms, including one for cardiac patients and three more cardiology suites. In addition, Phase 2 will provide more maternity beds and maternity operating rooms.
The new acute care tower will include a two-level underground parkade and a rooftop helipad. Work is expected to be completed in 2025 by EllisDon.
“This is an exciting day for our community. When our loved ones need care, we rely on Royal Columbian Hospital and our health-care workers to keep us safe and healthy,” said Jennifer Whiteside, MLA for New Westminster. “Work is officially underway on site for the next phase of hospital redevelopment, and the associated construction jobs will also be a large boost to the local economy.”
The estimated $1.49-billion, three-phase redevelopment is funded by the provincial government, Fraser Health and the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.
Phase 3 of the redevelopment project will upgrade and expand areas in the existing Health Care Centre and Columbia Tower. Phase 3 is projected to start in 2023 and be completed in 2026.
