Tuesday July 4, 2023 | WILLIAMS LAKE, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
An update about the redevelopment of Cariboo Memorial Hospital was given today by Health Minister Adrian Dix at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake.
Dix called it a ‘standardized modernized hospital’, which includes 25 additional beds (for a total of 53), as well as a new emergency department with 23 treatment spaces (an increase of 16), medical surgical unit, mental health unit, maternity and women’s health unit (including four single-occupancy rooms), and a new temperature-controlled pharmacy. There will be new administration, educational and training spaces for University of BC faculty of medicine.
“This is our hope and drive for change,” said Dix. “It’s needed generational change,” he said.
Interior Health customized delivery:
Interior Health CEO and President Susan Brown says the new facility will recognize how health delivery is different in the BC Interior compared to ‘other parts of BC’ including differences from Kamloops and Kelowna (also within Interior Health).
The new hospital will be “welcoming to all”, said Brown in today’s media session, allowing for “customs and rituals” that patients and their families will want.
“It’s a shining example of excellence in what a hospital can be,” said Brown.
It’s expected that new medical professions will be attracted to work at the new state of the art facility.
Phased construction:
The original hospital opened 60 years ago in 1963. For the new hospital, Phase 1 (three-storey addition) is set to be ready by 2026, and Phase 2 with further renovations is aiming for 2029 completion.
Project budget:
Project cost is $366.59 million said Dix, noting that the community and region have contributed to that cost (Interior Health and Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District). “The commitment of the community has been unfailing,” he said, though said he also thought it took too long “but we’re here now”.