SURREY – Health Minister Adrian Dix announced this week that the work for Surrey’s proposed new hospital is moving forward with two proponents being short listed to lead the project design and construction as a result of the request for qualifications process, which ended on March 17, 2022. The proponents are EllisDon Design Build Inc. and PCL Construction Ltd.
The RFP process normally takes about a year to finalize. Although NDP government has promised that the construction is expected to start in summer 2023 with the facility scheduled to be ready for patients in 2027, opposition has some concerning questions for the government about this hospital.
Much has been debated about this hospital with opposition leader Kevin Falcon calling this hospital a mere Urgent and Primary Care Centre and calling Cloverdale location “not so great.” Elenore Sturko, BC Liberal Candidate for Surrey South too found it the announcement too little too late. Sturko is of the view that people will be left waiting for years “to come for what amounts to a glorified urgent care centre.”
The new hospital will have 168 beds, a surgical/perioperative suite with five operating rooms, four procedure rooms, an emergency department with 55 treatment spaces, and virtual care options in all clinical service areas.
The facility will have a large medical imaging department, including three CT scanners and two MRI machines, as well as pharmacy, laboratory and academic spaces.
There will be a dedicated area for spiritual care and family gatherings that support cultural diversity and spiritual practices.
The new BC Cancer Centre will include an oncology ambulatory care unit with 50 exam rooms, 54 chemotherapy treatment spaces and room for six linear accelerators for radiation therapy to provide care and support for people diagnosed with cancer.
The project also includes a 49-space child care centre and 730 parking spots and will pursue opportunities for innovation and automation to address future needs.
The capital cost is estimated at $1.72 billion and is funded by the provincial government. Fraser Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority are working with the Surrey Hospitals Foundation and BC Cancer Foundation to explore potential funding opportunities. Although government is promising it to be a full hospital which will cater to the growing needs of the fastest growing population, the hospital is not offering any maternity unit which is the need of the hour, also the government is still struggling with staffing and doctors. “Budget 2022 revealed only $2 million has been spent on the much-delayed project to date — clearly this isn’t the priority the NDP has made this out to be. It’s just not good enough at a time when there is a severe primary care crisis with our medical system on the brink,” Sturko
