The B.C. government continues its health-care spending spree. The province announced on Friday a concept plan has been approved for a new hospital in the Cowichan Valley.
“People who live in the Cowichan Valley have waited a long time for the hospital they deserve, and that wait will soon be over,” said Premier John Horgan. “The new hospital we’re announcing today will serve people in the valley for decades to come, meaning better health care in their own backyard.”
The province is hoping to start construction on the new hospital in 2021 and is planning on making the new facility three times the size of the existing hospital. The target date to have the doors open is 2024.
The existing Cowichan District Hospital was opened in 1967 and has 134 beds. Since the hospital opened, the Cowichan Valley’s population has more than doubled.
The province does not have any cost numbers but says it has been allocated for in the existing capital budget.
“Cowichan District Hospital is 50 years old. The capacity issues it faces on a daily basis are frustrating for patients and the hospital’s dedicated health-care workers. It was critical that we take action,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “We received a concept plan, and approved it within months, so work could get going as soon as possible, and people could have a new hospital.”
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Earlier this week, Dix announced a new hospital in Dawson Creek. The province has also been quickly making changes to the health-care system including opening primary care centres, increasing MRI procedures and reducing wait times for knee and hip replacements.
The province has also announced the recruitment of 200 family doctors and 200 nurse practitioners. Currently, more than 700,000 British Columbians don’t have access to a family doctor.
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One of the challenges the government is currently facing is an aging population. The Cowichan Valley is one of the fastest growing, and aging, in the province. The new hospital will include 60 additional beds as well as a psychiatric component.
“Our population is growing and aging over and above the other parts of Island Health. This has resulted in high rates of alternate care, which ties up medical beds and puts the hospital in overcapacity on most days,” said local patient advocate Linda Zabok.
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