New Richmond Hospital tower bigger, more expensive than planned
Posted July 2, 2020 12:05 pm.
Last Updated July 2, 2020 12:06 pm.
RICHMOND (NEWS 1130) — A new nine-storey, acute-care tower at Richmond Hospital will cost hundreds of millions more than originally budgeted, Premier John Horgan announced Thursday.
He said the budget will be finalized in September, with completion of the project pegged for 2024.
Preliminary estimates from Vancouver Coastal Health in March 2018 suggested an eight-storey replacement tower would cost $283 million.
“During the business planning stage, it became clear that the fast-growing community of Richmond needs a bigger patient care tower with more services,” Health Minister Adrian Dix says.
“The renewed and expanded concept plan reflects our government’s ongoing commitment to the people who live and work here, ensuring that timely, quality public health care will be there for them, now and into the future.”
A new emergency department and intensive care unit at Richmond Hospital will feature double the floor space. The tower will also feature a medical imaging department, intensive care unit, and pharmacy.
The new concept plan includes renovations to the existing South Tower, as well, to create new in-patient psychiatry and psychiatric emergency units.
“People have been calling for a new tower at Richmond Hospital, and our government took decisive action to make it happen,” Horgan says.
“Once finished, the new tower will have nearly 220 new beds, bringing the total complement to the hospital the 350.”
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Redevelopment is required to the hospital’s original six-storey North Tower, including outdated patient-care delivery areas.
A structural assessment of the original tower determined it to be at a high risk of widespread damage or structural failure after an earthquake, according to the province.
Richmond Hospital opened in 1966 and has 240 beds, serving Richmond, South Vancouver and Delta, as well as people using Vancouver International Airport and BC Ferries.
The original six-storey North Tower has 108 beds and is home to surgical suites, in-patient units, a mammography clinic, cancer care, medical imaging and a pharmacy, as well as administrative, academic, and support services.
“Our community of philanthropic leaders will be ecstatic to learn about the additional services that will be included in the new acute care tower and the opportunities for innovation that an expanded project scope will bring to Richmond,” says Natalie Meixner, president and CEO of Richmond Hospital Foundation.
“People across our vibrant and diverse community have made commitments to help us reach 88 per cent of our $50-million goal, and we look forward to even greater philanthropic support and involvement from our donors in the future.”