Construction of the new Interior Heart and Surgical Centre (IHSC) surgical building is one step closer with the signing of an agreement with Plenary Health to deliver the new facility.

Plenary Health delivered a proposal that reduced the capital-construction and operating costs. The construction schedule has also been shortened by several months in part by changing the method of ground preparation.

All health-care services will continue to be funded by the government of B.C. and delivered by Interior Health. The B.C. government maintains control and decision-making over services and owns the facilities during and after the life of the agreement.

The final agreement with Plenary Health is a fixed-price, performance-based agreement to design, build, partially finance and maintain the new facility. The total cost of the IHSC surgical building component is $169.1 million. Construction is expected to start in autumn 2012, with anticipated completion by early 2015. The centre is expected to be open to patients in mid- 2015.

The surgical building will provide a permanent location for cardiac surgical services and programs at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). The centre will have state-of-the-art surgical facilities, a medical device reprocessing department, cardiac intensive care and post-operative recovery.

In keeping with the B.C. government's commitment to environmental sustainability and green buildings, the IHSC will be designed and built to achieve LEED Gold certification, and maximize the use of wood in the interior and exterior of the facility in keeping with the Wood First Act.

The IHSC project is bringing cardiac care and surgery programs closer to home for those living in the Southern Interior. The overall IHSC project includes the IHSC building, the Dr. Walter Anderson building, renovations to the existing Royal and Strathcona buildings and fit-outs in the new Centennial building. Approximate total investment is $367 million, with $70.7 million from the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District.

As a part of the project, cardiac intervention procedures were launched at KGH in 2009. Previously, percutaneous coronary intervention's (PCIs) were only performed at Royal Columbian Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital. Since its inception, more than 2,000 individuals have received PCIs at KGH.

The government of British Columbia has invested around $1.5 billion dollars in capital projects in the Interior since 2001. This includes a new Centennial Tower at Kelowna General Hospital, Polson Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and the development of UBC's Southern Medical Program.

Quotes:

Michael de Jong, Minister of Health:

"A big step has been taken with the announcement that very complex and detailed financial negotiations with Plenary Health have now concluded and a final agreement has been reached. British Columbian families in the Interior can now look forward to construction on the surgical centre to start this fall."

Norm Letnick, MLA, Kelowna-Lake Country:

"With this investment of $367 million, that brings total health capital investment in the Interior since 2001 to around $1.5 billion dollars."

Ben Stewart, MLA, Westside-Kelowna:

"With the contract negotiations successfully concluded, I look forward to seeing construction of the new surgical centre start this fall. The integrated critical care facility will provide a full range of support closer to where people live."

Steve Thomson, MLA, Kelowna-Mission:

"The surgical centre that will be built will save lives by providing timely, life-saving therapies and surgeries to area residents who previously would have had to be transported to the coast."

Robert Hobson, chair, Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District:

"It's certainly good news that a contract has been reached on the scope of the surgical building. On behalf of the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District, I'd like to thank everyone involved in the financial negotiations, as we now turn to the actual construction of the facility."

Norman Embree, Interior Health chair:

"Interior Health is pleased that contract negotiations are now complete and an agreement has been reach with Plenary Health. It's time to get the shovels in the ground for the new surgical centre."

Media Contacts:

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

Cam McAlpine
Interior Health
250 801-1741