In partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health and Richmond Hospital Foundation, the Province is moving forward to start plans for a new replacement patient care tower at Richmond Hospital, announced Health Minister Terry Lake.

“Richmond Hospital has been a long-standing pillar of the community, touching many lives and helping to keep Richmond healthy,” said Lake. “The proposed modernization of Richmond Hospital continues to support government’s commitment to renewing health infrastructure in British Columbia, and address the changing face of health care in B.C. The concept plan will look at what the community needs now, and into the future.”

A modern patient care tower would replace the original tower to help ensure high quality of care continues at Richmond Hospital while allowing a more effective use of the facility and staff’s resources. The concept plan will address:

• Private rooms which help improve patient outcomes, patient privacy and reduce exposure to communicable infections such as C Difficile and MSRA.
• Modern hospital equipment like smart beds and other technologies that monitor patient health and enhance care, which help hospital staff spend their time where most needed, ensuring the highest levels of patient care.
• Designing the facilities to improve patient flow helps make our system more efficient and improves health care for patients.

“Richmond is a unique and vibrant community and local health care is vital to all of its citizens,” said Teresa Wat, MLA for Richmond Centre. “Our government is proud to announce this important step for Richmond Hospital.”

The original hospital was built in the 1960s. Since then the demographics of Richmond have changed. By 2030, the senior population alone is expected to increase by 121%. The previous facility was also built before current standards regarding seismic stability were in place. The new tower planning will include seismic standards and be safer for the patients in the event of an earthquake.

“Richmond has B.C.’s fastest growing population of seniors and is the fourth fastest growing urban centre in the province overall,” said Jennifer MacKenzie, chief operating officer, Vancouver Coastal Health-Richmond. “Planning is already under way in Richmond for home care services and additional residential care facilities, to accommodate our rapidly growing population and the needs of patients.”

“Our community of donors is thrilled to hear this news. Regardless of whether our citizens have lived here for decades or whether they are newcomers, everyone holds health care as one of the highest priorities for themselves and their family," said Natalie Meixner, president and CEO, Richmond Hospital Foundation. “Our donors have been loyal supporters of improving health care in many areas over the past 30 years and the community, right from the inception of Richmond Hospital 50 years ago, has come together to make sure we are all playing our part. Today’s announcement is exciting news for Richmond.”

The development of the concept plan will take into consideration the hospital’s role as part of a network of facilities delivering care for the citizens of the Richmond area and the entire Lower Mainland. The ministry is doing a review of services across the Lower Mainland to determine how they can work better as a system for patients. This work is particularly important in the context of the many newly planned capital projects, including the redevelopments of St. Paul’s Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital, to ensure services are integrated in a way that supports the Province’s vision of patient-centred care.