RFP ISSUED FOR SURREY OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL

SURREY – The Surrey Outpatient Hospital project reached another key milestone today with the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) the new facility in Surrey, British Columbia.

“Today, we are one step closer in our commitment to meet the needs of Surrey residents through the construction of an outpatient hospital,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “This facility will provide leading edge diagnostics for Surrey residents as well provide the community hub for primary care services which is so critical to addressing our chronic disease challenges we face today and in the future.”

Five proponent teams responded to the Request for Qualifications that closed on April 19. The following three teams were short-listed in May and have been invited to respond to the RFP:

· BC Healthcare Solutions;

· Infusion Health;

· Plenary Health.

Once submissions to the RFP are received and evaluated, a preferred proponent will be selected and offered the opportunity to finalize an agreement to deliver the outpatient hospital in Surrey.

“The Request for Proposals represents an exciting milestone in our commitment to the residents of Surrey,” said Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer. “A new outpatient hospital is an important component in our strategy to meet the health care needs in Surrey and decrease congestion at Surrey Memorial Hospital.”

“The increasing trend is towards medical procedures being conducted on an outpatient basis,” said Dr. Nigel Murray, President and CEO of Fraser Health. “Coupled with the state-of-the-art design and leading practices to be offered in this new facility will make it a strong link in the network of services we're building to meet the needs of our rapidly-growing communities.”

The Surrey Outpatient Hospital will provide a full range of scheduled outpatient services, including day surgery, diagnostic imaging and medical clinics. The outpatient hospital will also include a primary health care clinic to deliver enhanced family practice services.

Clinics for patients with chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, asthma, diabetes, and other debilitating illnesses will also be co-located with the new outpatient hospital. Surrey Memorial Hospital currently handles almost 134,000 outpatient clinic visits and performs 94,300 outpatient diagnostic procedures per year. These numbers are expected to grow by nearly 60 per cent by 2020.

Construction is expected to begin in 2008, after the competitive selection process has been completed and costs have been finalized, with completion targeted for 2010.

All health services will be funded by the Province of B.C. through Fraser Health, in keeping with the principles of the Canada Health Act.

The new outpatient hospital is part of the Surrey Health Services Capacity Initiative with a value of more than $200 million to address Surrey’s future health needs and ease congestion at Surrey Memorial Hospital. The initiative includes plans for a new state-of-the-art emergency and urgent care facility at Surrey Memorial Hospital to triple existing floor space; a new perinatal care facility above the new emergency facility; and, renovations at Surrey Memorial Hospital and new construction to create more renal stations and additional acute care beds.

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Media contact:	Sarah Plank Media Relations Manager Ministry of Health 250 952-3387 250 480-6678 (cell)	Fraser Health Communications 604 450-7881 (pager)

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