Premier Christy Clark today announced the first phase of the redevelopment of Royal Inland Hospital, which includes a new clinical services building, medical teaching space and more onsite parking.

"I know that the future of Royal Inland Hospital is an important issue to the region to meet the growing and changing needs of families," said Premier Clark. "That's why we are moving forward with this multi-phased redevelopment project."

The first phase of redevelopment includes constructing clinic space for some outpatient services that could house cardiology, neurology, renal and respiratory programs. The building could also provide teaching space for the UBC medical school program. Construction will also include more onsite parking and improved vehicle and pedestrian access to the hospital.

"A lot of time and effort has been put into the Royal Inland Hospital redevelopment plan so far and it's great to see the project is moving ahead to the next phase," said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake.

The first phase of redevelopment is estimated to cost $80 million and will be shared with the Thompson Regional Hospital District. Detailed construction costs will be determined when the business case is approved in early 2013, and construction is expected to begin in late 2013.

"This is an exciting milestone in the redevelopment of Royal Inland Hospital. Having quality health care is a priority for our government and this project will provide even greater care for patients upon completion," said Kamloops South-Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger.

"On behalf of the Thompson Regional Hospital District, I'd like to thank both the Premier and the government for today's announcement. This is definitely great news for the region," said Peter Milobar, Thompson Regional Hospital District chair.

In June 2011, Interior Health completed a master site plan for Royal Inland Hospital which will be used to guide future development at the site. The plan highlighted priority areas requiring expansion and redesign, including hospital site access and parking, surgical services, in-patient areas and ambulatory care.

In addition to the new clinical services building, a series of potential phases include:

• Constructing a surgical inpatient building.
• Demolition of the Alumnae Tower and construction of a new parking structure on that site.
• Creating a new dedicated emergency entrance and improving onsite parking.
• Constructing a new inpatient/outpatient building as well as renovating specific areas within the existing hospital.

To proceed with future work, the site requires redevelopment of roadway access routes to the facility, the establishment of pedestrian pathways and better parking infrastructure.

"Interior Health is committed to providing quality care, and today's announcement that the provincial government is moving forward with redevelopment at Royal Inland Hospital will ensure health professionals will continue to provide outstanding care that area residents have come to expect, " said Interior Health chair Norman Embree.

Since 2007, about $80 million in investments have been at Royal Inland Hospital. This includes $27.5 million for second floor redevelopment and new MRI, $17 million for Hillside Centre mental health facility, $11 million to relocate the intensive care unit and $10.75 million for medical device reprocessing department redevelopment.

Media contacts:

Mike Morton
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 588-8380

Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)
Interior Health Communications
Erin Toews
250 574-1523

BACKGROUNDER

Starting the Clock on Redevelopment of Royal Inland Hospital

Over the past 10 years, the government of B.C. has invested more than $7 billion in capital projects at hospitals, care homes and other health facilities throughout the province.

These projects have ranged from small investments such as electrical system improvements and medical equipment purchases, to major hospital expansions or replacement projects.

Active major capital projects include:

• At Surrey Memorial Hospital, a new, multi-storey building accommodating an expanded, emergency department, neonatal intensive care unit and additional inpatient beds. The project is valued at approximately $512 million and will be complete in 2014.
• Procurement is underway for the North Island Hospitals Project, which includes two new hospitals at an estimated cost of up to $600 million to benefit Vancouver Island patients living in the Comox Valley, Campbell River and surrounding communities. Construction is planned to begin in 2012 with completion expected for 2017.
• The BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North in Prince George is a $69.9-million facility that is part of the larger $106-million Northern Cancer Control Strategy. The strategy will provide families in northern British Columbia with better access to cancer treatment and diagnostic services when it opens to patients in fall 2012.

Completed major projects include:

• At Fort St. John, a new 55-bed hospital and 123-bed residential care facility replacing older, outdated facilities. The new Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa is valued at approximately $302 million and opened for patients in June 2012.
• The $232-million Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre opened for patients in June 2011. What makes it unique is that the 17,500-square-metre facility offers day surgery and diagnostic procedures all within one building.
• The $349-million Patient Care Centre at Royal Jubilee in Victoria opened for patients in March 2011. The new 38,000-square-metre facility includes more than 80-per-cent single-patient rooms.

A major capital project - such as the redevelopment of Royal Inland Hospital - is a large undertaking that takes a series of planning steps to ensure the facility is designed appropriately; is tendered and constructed for the least cost possible; and most importantly, is scheduled properly to ensure the continuity of health care at the existing hospital is maintained during the construction period.

Redevelopment at hospitals is typically guided by an overall site master development plan. Creating a master plan involves extensive consultation with health-care providers, as well as with the public and the local municipality to set out a "road map" of how a hospital may change over a period of 15 to 20 years in the future.

Out of a hospital master plan emerge individual capital projects that require detailed planning to properly define the size of a project, its cost to construct and operate, the schedule of development, and the plan to construct the building - particularly if it is on a tight hospital site where construction might have to be done in phases to maintain health-care services. Individual projects are developed in the following steps:

AN EXAMPLE OF A CAPITAL PROJECT TIMELINE - SURREY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Concept Plan

• Approved - December 2005 - however this was a broad strategy that recommended first proceeding with the Jim Pattison Outpatient & Surgery Centre (opened for patients in 2011) then followed by the Surrey emergency depart & critical care tower.

Business Plan

• Start - Early 2008
• Approved - December 2008

Procurement

• Start - February 2009
• Complete - December 2010

Construction

• Start - January 2011
• Emergency Department open for patients - September 2013
• Full building completion - June 2014

Find out how government is ensuring B.C. provides world class health care today, tomorrow and for future generations by seeing where health capital projects are underway and completed. Visit www.health.gov.bc.ca/cpa/mediasite/building-patient-care/

Media contact:

Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (Media line)