A bigger, more modern Royal Columbian Hospital is coming to New Westminster - eventually.
B.C. Health Minister Mike de Jong told a crowd of media, staff and hospital supporters on Tuesday morning that the government was officially committing to the redevelopment of the 150-year old hospital, but that the project doesn't yet have a determined timeline or final price tag.
"While things have changed (over the last 150 years), the legacy of caring, commitment (and) professionalism has remained constant - but that doesn't mean there haven't been challenges," he said.
He cited "stories of overcrowding," hallway care and outbreaks of C. difficile infection as problems in hospitals around the Fraser Health region, including RCH.
He also noted that the hospital is facing the additional challenges of a growing population in the area, an aging demographic and an emerging "baby boomlet" that was revealed in recent census numbers.
"What is to be done in response to the pressure that has been placed on Royal Columbian Hospital as we ... look back and celebrate the past 150 years? It is time, in a very purposeful way, to begin planning and building for the next 150 years."
De Jong told the crowd that the government was officially announcing its commitment to redevelop the hospital, which is anticipated to include hundreds of additional beds, a larger emergency department, a new surgical suite and consolidation of critical care beds, along with renovations and upgrades to existing spaces.
Calling the process a "big job," de Jong said that the Ministry of Health and the Fraser Health Authority would be finalizing the concept plan between now and October. That will be followed by a detailed business plan completed over the coming year.
He said the redeveloped hospital will be a "state of the art facility."
De Jong didn't specify a final price tag for the project.
"We have set ourselves an ambitious target and one that will cost - hello, members of the (Royal Columbian Hospital) foundation," he said, noting the fundraising foundation that supports the hospital.
"We don't know what the final cost (will be) ... but based on what I have seen in my time in government and with facilities across British Columbia, we are talking something that could reach upwards of three-quarters of a billion dollars - these are incredibly valuable investments," he said.
He also couldn't specify a final timeline, noting that "a new Royal Columbian Hospital won't emerge overnight."
As well, in keeping with the theme of the 150th anniversary, de Jong announced that he was issuing a directive for "150 days of action" in improving certain problem areas with set targets for decreasing "hallway care", decreasing infection rates, improving time for admittance from the ER to a ward, reducing average days of hospital stays and reducing some surgical wait times.
"Roll up your sleeves, we've got some work to do," he said.
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