The Province has approved the business plan for the expansion of Eagle Ridge Hospital’s emergency department, more than doubling the number of treatment spaces from 19 to 39.

“The expansion of our beloved Eagle Ridge Hospital’s emergency department will provide better space for staff to treat more patients,” said Linda Reimer, Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA, who made the announcement on behalf of Health Minister Terry Lake. “We know the Tri-Cities area is growing, and this investment will help ensure Eagle Ridge Hospital can continue to provide for and support the growing demands of our communities.”

Eagle Ridge Hospital was built more than 30 years ago when it saw approximately 20,000 emergency department patient visits per year. Since then visits have increased to more than 50,000 per year, and by 2030 demand is expected to increase to 68,000 per year.

The expansion will include four new isolation rooms to support improved infection-control measures as well as two new trauma resuscitation bays. Separated entrances will also be created for walk-in patients and ambulances, and there will be a decontamination area to help with chemical contamination.

“Expanding this emergency department ensures residents have access to care when they need it the most,” said Lisa Zetes-Zanatta, Fraser Health executive director, New Westminster/Tri-Cities Health Services and Eagle Ridge Hospital. “We are making investments that will benefit people in the Tri-Cities today and for years to come.”

In order to expand the emergency department, health records will move to the basement of the hospital, diagnostic cardiology will expand its functional space by moving to the existing health records area, and rehabilitation services will also relocate to a partially vacant part of the hospital.

Fraser Health is contributing $22.6 million towards this project, with the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation contributing $5 million.  

“For over 30 years, Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation has been committed to our mandate of raising funds and awareness to improve the health of our community through donations to Eagle Ridge Hospital. The foundation has set an ambitious goal of raising $5 million from our community to support this expansion of the Emergency Department,” said Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation volunteer board chair, Alison Johansen. “We are confident that our community recognizes this expansion is necessary to meet the needs of our growing population.”

Procurement for the detailed design and construction of the project will now get underway. Work is expected to begin in summer 2018. It is expected this project will generate more than 103 direct jobs and more than 66 jobs in supplier industries, for a total of more than 169 jobs during construction.

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.