Improved access to life-saving health care is on the way to downtown Vancouver with the approval of the business plan for a new St. Paul’s Hospital.

“For over 125 years, people in Vancouver and across British Columbia have benefited from the health care provided by St. Paul’s Hospital,” said Premier John Horgan. “Today, we are safeguarding these life-saving services by taking action to build a brand new St. Paul's Hospital that will serve more people and offer better access to the specialized care people need.”

Doors of the new $1.9-billion St. Paul’s are expected to open in 2026 and will be located at 1002 Station St.

“British Columbians have always expressed great confidence, and taken great comfort, in the care delivered by St. Paul’s. After more than a decade and a half of stalling, it is exciting to give the green light to a new, state-of-the-art St. Paul’s Hospital that will continue this legacy for many years to come,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Our government has made it a priority to see this project move forward, so that St. Paul’s continues to serve people around the province now and in the future.”

The new St. Paul’s will continue to serve the people of Vancouver and all of B.C. as an internationally renowned, full-service, acute-care hospital and integrated health campus. It will have capacity for up to 548 beds, which includes 115 net new beds. The site will be the home of several leading provincial programs and referral centres, including for heart and lung care, renal, eating disorders and specialty surgeries and transplants.

The hospital will also offer a diverse and long list of general and specialized care, including HIV/AIDS, chronic disease management services, emergency and critical care, mental health and addictions beds and programs, ambulatory services and outpatient clinics, end-of-life care, Indigenous health, maternity, colorectal and gastrointestinal services, and community care and community outreach programs.

Health-care workers, researchers and students will harness the medical tools of the future in the new hospital, with medical projects like immunotherapy, precision medicine, virtual reality, robotics and 3-D printing. Medical records, test results and images will be instantly and securely accessible to patients and their care team no matter where people are in the hospital or the province. This will help to empower patients so they can take more control of their own health.

St. Paul’s will continue to be a teaching hospital, training hundreds of University of British Columbia medical students, British Columbia Institute of Technology nursing students and hundreds of other health-sector professions. Integration of care, teaching and research — with emphasis on new knowledge rapidly translated into patient care solutions — will continue to be the focus of its research centres and specialized programs.

The project will be delivered using a design-build finance procurement model and will be cost-shared between the provincial government and Providence Health Care. The St. Paul’s Foundation campaign fundraising goal for Providence Health Care is anticipated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars with a portion allocated to the new core hospital. Jim Pattison, chairman and CEO of the Jim Pattison Group, has already donated $75 million to the future of St. Paul’s, a historic contribution in Canadian health-care philanthropy. The current St. Paul’s Hospital land at 1081 Burrard Street will be sold with funds going toward the project.

Quotes:

Fiona Dalton, president and chief executive officer, Providence Health Care —

“One hundred and twenty five years ago, St. Paul’s Hospital was established by the Sisters of Providence, and ever since then it has delivered compassionate care to the most vulnerable patient populations in Vancouver and across British Columbia. The provincial government’s visionary commitment and investment into the new St. Paul’s will enable us to take this commitment forward for the next 125 years. We will also work with our partners to ensure this amazing project further strengthens B.C.’s position as a global leader in health care, research and teaching.”

Dick Vollet, president and chief executive officer, St. Paul’s Foundation —

“The new St. Paul’s at the Jim Pattison Medical Centre will establish a new standard for health care and for community building. The site offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a hospital that’s purpose built to put people first. A world-class facility for the 21st century that remains true to our core philosophies of compassion, social justice and innovation. It’s a place where the best and brightest will work together to heal the sick, collaborate on new discoveries and mentor the next generation of health-care providers. It’s truly so much more than a hospital — it’s the beginning of a new era in health care for British Columbians.”

Mary Ackenhusen, president and chief executive officer, Vancouver Coastal Health —

“This is an exciting and historic day for health care in British Columbia. The new St. Paul’s is a tribute to the extraordinary vision of our partners at Providence Health Care, the commitment of the provincial government and the generosity and support of the community. We look forward with great anticipation to our continued collaboration with Providence Health Care as this 21st-century centre of innovation, patient care, research and education moves forward.” 

Quick Facts:

• A business plan confirms scope, cost estimate, procurement and timeline.
• The first phase of the St. Paul’s redevelopment project is building a new core hospital. Phase 2 is expected to include a clinical support and research centre. Future development opportunities will be confirmed upon completion of the Station Street rezoning.
• All new hospitals in B.C. are planned to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard.
• Opened in 1894, St. Paul’s Hospital offers medical and surgical programs, including cardiac services, HIV/AIDS and kidney care for people around British Columbia.
• All existing services currently offered by Vancouver Coastal Health in the West End and downtown will remain after St. Paul’s Hospital relocates.
• Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care are working collaboratively with people in the West End/downtown so they continue to have access to health-care services. This will be done through existing services, while expanding, enhancing and improving access to primary, home and community services.

Learn More:

To learn more about the new St. Paul’s Hospital, visit: http://thenewstpauls.ca/