Fraser Health, in partnership with the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, has commenced a high-level master-planning process for Burnaby Hospital to develop a clear vision for the expansion, improvement and delivery of health services at Burnaby Hospital.

Once complete, the plan will guide capital decisions for hospital improvements and future expansion opportunities on its existing site. Estimated cost of this first stage planning process is $230,000.

Over time, the hospital has changed in response to the demands of health care, the rise of technology and the ideas of the clinical community. The redevelopment of the Burnaby Hospital campus begins with the question that this high-level master-planning exercise strives to answer: How to knit the hospital's proud past with a bright future?

To gain a clear understanding of future opportunities, Fraser Health will undertake a comprehensive process to ensure all interests - internally and externally - are heard. A team of architects and planners will then interpret this information into several space and development options. These options will show how the hospital site can develop in distinct phases to the year 2030. This process will run until fall 2012, at which time recommendations will be made to the Ministry of Health for consideration.

In addition to site-specific issues and opportunities, the planning team will be looking throughout the Burnaby community to ensure that potential growth of the hospital is connected to a broader Burnaby health-planning process, which would include Burnaby Hospital's connection to the Fraser Health network of hospitals and community health centres throughout the region.

Fraser Health is conducting high-level master-planning exercises at several of its community hospital sites including Delta Hospital, Peace Arch Hospital and Eagle Ridge Hospital. This combined activity will enable Fraser Health to clearly articulate the role of each community hospital and better prioritize capital investment and facility improvement opportunities.

Quotes:

Michael de Jong, Health Minister -

"The high-level master-planning process underway at Burnaby Hospital is a first step in the redevelopment of the Burnaby Hospital campus and will ensure the hospital is well-positioned to continue to serve the growing population and changing demographics within Burnaby and surrounding communities. The process will engage community leaders and is important for the proactive management of our health-care infrastructure."

Richard T. Lee, MLA, Burnaby North -

"Burnaby Hospital is an extremely valuable asset for the community of Burnaby and for the province. It deserves close attention and this planning process will engage the public for ideas to help us better understand and plan how health services at the hospital should be delivered now and into the future, maximizing the benefit to our citizens."

Harry Bloy, MLA, Burnaby Lougheed -

"Fraser Health is breaking new ground with their pioneering high-level master-planning work at Burnaby Hospital and around the Lower Mainland. This evolving and inclusive process will shed light on new opportunities for Burnaby Hospital and provide the community with some certainty about how the hospital will continue to develop at its current site."

Nigel Murray, CEO and president, Fraser Health -

"This comprehensive planning framework will ensure our resources are focused on the highest and best use of Burnaby Hospital's land and space. This is paramount to our ability to make decisions on capital improvements and land planning over the long term."

Rahim Rajan, chair, Burnaby Hospital Foundation -

"The master planning process is an excellent opportunity for all of us to ensure that we have the necessary understanding to provide the very best health care and services to our community. The foundation is very proud to partner in the master planning process and we look forward to the many opportunities we will have to support the effort to meet our community's health-care needs and services now and into the future. We would like to thank our donor family for their tremendous generosity and caring towards realizing these opportunities."

Media Contacts:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Fraser Health Media Pager
604 450-7881