Premier John Horgan has announced that the replacement for the original Richmond Hospital tower is moving ahead, and a new patient care tower is on the way for people living and working in Richmond.

“Richmond has been waiting for good news about replacing the original tower, which has served the community well since the 1960s, but is now out of date,” said Premier Horgan. “We are working to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community by moving forward with our partners to fund this redevelopment project. The new acute-care tower will modernize Richmond Hospital for the coming decades, and bring quality public health care to people who live and work here.”

The Province has approved the concept plan, and the project now will move to the business planning stage.

“Richmond’s population is growing quickly and is also aging, and we are aware that people have been waiting for a long time for a new hospital tower,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “That’s why we’re proud to have taken decisive action very shortly after receiving the updated concept plan in early 2018. A new chapter for Richmond Hospital in now underway, as we proceed with preparing the business plan, which is one of the final steps before construction commences.”

Vancouver Coastal Health and the Ministry of Health will work with the Richmond Hospital Foundation to confirm final funding contributions after a more-detailed cost estimate is completed. Exact funding will be confirmed during the business-planning stage.

Redevelopment is required to address the critical needs and deficiencies of Richmond Hospital's original tower, the North Tower, including its outdated and obsolete patient-care delivery areas. A structural assessment of the original tower determined it to be at a high risk of widespread damage, or structural failure, after an earthquake.

Concept planning is an important part of the planning process for a new hospital. It ensures a project will meet the current needs of the community, as well as future demands. Estimates indicate Richmond’s population is projected to grow by 23% by 2030.

With the approval of the concept plan, the business-plan phase now will get underway, and will finalize details, such as scope of the new facility and budget. This stage is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

Upon approval of the business plan, the project will proceed to procurement and then construction. The business plan will focus on costing the project, and will address how services will be expanded within the replacement facility.

“Richmond is blessed to have an incredible team of doctors, nurses and staff with outstanding expertise, and it’s important that they have the right space, equipment and facilities to support that,” said Mary Ackenhusen, president and CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health. “We expect the new tower will not only increase the level of service we provide, but support new, robust models of care that reflect the diverse needs of the community.”

“This is what our donors and our community have been waiting for,” said Natalie Meixner, president and CEO, Richmond Hospital Foundation. “Today’s news is re-energizing. It’s a reflection of what’s possible in this community, and we’re optimistic about reaching our campaign goals. We look forward to greater engagement with philanthropists in the community.”

Richmond Hospital opened in 1966 and today has approximately 231 beds, serving Richmond, South Vancouver and Delta, as well as people using Vancouver International Airport and BC Ferries.

Richmond Hospital’s original tower, the North Tower, has six storeys and 108 beds. It is home to surgical suites, in-patient units, a mammography clinic, cancer care, medical imaging and a pharmacy, as well as administrative, academic and support services.

All new hospital facilities in British Columbia are built to a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standard.