A new state-of-the-art emergency department and intensive care unit at Richmond Hospital will bring more services and better care for people in this growing community. 

Featuring double the amount of floor space, the new emergency department will be among a suite of added facilities and services to the new nine-floor tower, including a fully equipped medical imaging department, intensive care unit and pharmacy. The new concept plan also includes renovations to the existing South Tower to create new inpatient psychiatry and psychiatric emergency units.

“People have been calling for a new tower at Richmond Hospital, and our government took decisive action to make it happen,” said Premier John Horgan. “That’s why we’re proud to give the green light for a bigger, bolder plan for Richmond Hospital that will bring the facility into the 21st century and deliver the care Richmond needs, while creating thousands of jobs to help get our economy back on solid ground.”

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, said: “During the business planning stage, it became clear that the fast-growing community of Richmond needs a bigger patient care tower with more services. The renewed and expanded concept plan reflects our government’s ongoing commitment to the people who live and work here, ensuring that timely, quality public health care will be there for them, now and into the future.”

The initial concept plan for the acute care tower was approved in March 2018.

Detailed business planning for the expanded plan is underway. Completion is expected in September 2020. The project will then proceed to procurement and construction.

Redevelopment is required to address the critical needs and deficiencies of Richmond Hospital's original tower, the North Tower, including outdated patient-care delivery areas.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.

Richmond Hospital opened in 1966 and has 240 beds, serving Richmond, South Vancouver and Delta, as well as people using Vancouver International Airport and BC Ferries.

The original six-storey North Tower has 108 beds and 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.

Quotes:

Dr. Penny Ballem, board chair, Vancouver Coastal Health –

“Vancouver Coastal Health is grateful to the Ministry of Health and the Richmond Hospital Foundation for supporting our vision for an innovative and modern acute-care facility that meets the growing needs of our Richmond community. Taking bold steps now to increase access and expand services will allow us to better serve Richmond patients and clients for years to come.”

Natalie Meixner, president and CEO, Richmond Hospital Foundation –

“Our community of philanthropic leaders will be ecstatic to learn about the additional services that will be included in the new acute care tower and the opportunities for innovation that an expanded project scope will bring to Richmond. People across our vibrant and diverse community have made commitments to help us reach 88% of our $50 million goal, and we look forward to even greater philanthropic support and involvement from our donors in the future.”

A backgrounder follows.