The government of B.C. and Fraser Health Authority have announced a major expansion and upgrades to Burnaby Hospital, to the tune of up to $622 million.
As one of the largest hospitals outside the City of Vancouver, the aging facility dates as far back as 1952 and is in dire need of an upgrade. The new 10-year plan released last week highlights the master planning process and includes upgrades and expansions to the emergency department, surgical and diagnostic services, and replacement of some in-patient beds.
The last time Burnaby Hospital saw a significant upgrade was in 1978.
Part of the process, says the province, will be surveying the varied services across the Lower Mainland and identifying how the Burnaby Hospital expansion will integrate with the redevelopment of St. Paul’s Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital.
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“This is very exciting news for the patients and staff at Burnaby Hospital,” said Sheila Finamore, executive director, Burnaby Health Services and Burnaby Hospital. “Planning is already underway for a mental health zone in the emergency department and enhanced out-patient services to allow for better access to patients and better use of the space at the hospital.”
As it stands, the current hospital is 49,615 square metres and services 295 beds. The first phase of the expansion will add 47,506 square metres and 26 more beds, and the second phase will add another 84,230 square metres and 179 beds, totaling 500, by 2020. Additional parking stalls and parkades will also be built.
The total price tag for the project ranges from $517,386,400 on the low end to a projected maximum of $622,506,300.
Earlier this month, Burnaby Hospital came under fire after a patient with mental health concerns was allowed to leave the hospital alone and committed suicide only an hour later. The man’s mother blamed the hospital and the health care system for not notifying her of his release as promised.
The hospital currently only has 25 beds devoted to mental health and plans to add 35 more by 2020. They will also be adding 31 beds for neuroscience, where currently there are none. The largest increase in beds will be for surgical patients, going from 60 to 129 in 10 years.
Burnaby is currently B.C.’s third largest city with a population of 223,218 as of 2011 census data, and growing. Between 2006 and 2011, Burnaby’s population grew by over 10 per cent, well above City of Vancouver’s 4.4 per cent increase. The Fraser Health Authority expects Burnaby’s population to grow by 18 per cent by 2024.
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