With Budget 2017, the provincial government is supporting planning for hospital redevelopment for Williams Lake and region.

“Cariboo Memorial Hospital and Health Centre has provided excellent care for families in the area for many years,” said Health Minister Terry Lake, who was in Williams Lake to make the announcement. “I had the opportunity to tour the hospital in 2015 and was able to see first-hand the need for renewal. The planned redevelopment is great news for this community and will benefit patients, staff and visitors to the hospital for decades to come.”

The Ministry of Health is currently reviewing the concept plan provided by Interior Health. Concept planning is an important part of the planning process for a major capital project, and provides an opportunity to ensure the redeveloped facility will meet the needs of the community and future demands.

“Redevelopment of Cariboo Memorial Hospital is something that our community has been actively working toward and today’s announcement is great news,” said Donna Barnett, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin. “I’m pleased that government is supporting this project as it proceeds to the next stage.”

“A redeveloped Cariboo Memorial Hospital will help meet the long-term health-care needs of the region and I support the work currently underway as we near the next development step,” said Coralee Oakes, MLA for Cariboo North.

Once the concept plan is approved by government, the next step will be preparing a business plan that will focus on cost and services of a new facility. The ministry expects work on the business plan could begin in fall 2017. This process is expected to take 12 to 18 months, and would be followed by procurement and construction.

“Redevelopment at Cariboo Memorial Hospital is among Interior Health’s priorities,” said John O’Fee, Interior Health board chair. “I am pleased to see that work is underway to move redevelopment forward in Williams Lake – this is exciting news for residents, as well as our physicians and employees in the Cariboo region.”

“This project is a much-needed development for our hospital district. We are pleased to work with the Province and Interior Health to further enhance the quality of care provided to our communities,” said Margo Wagner, Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District chair.

Cariboo Memorial Hospital and Health Centre was built in 1963. It has 28 beds and provides an emergency room, intensive care, operating room and obstetrical units. The centre also has lab and diagnostic imaging and an outpatient hemodialysis unit.

The B.C. government is making record investments in modern, safe infrastructure projects throughout the province. In doing so, these construction projects are creating well-paying, family-supporting jobs. These investments are possible because of the fiscal plan of the B.C. government.