ABBOTSFORD
– Premier Gordon Campbell and Health
Services Minister George Abbott celebrated a milestone in the history of health
care in British Columbia today with the
official opening of the new Abbotsford
Regional Hospital
and Cancer Centre.
“Today marks the completion of the single largest
health-care capital investment in the history of our province,” said Premier Campbell. “Abbotsford Regional
Hospital and Cancer Centre is the
first new regional hospital to be opened in British Columbia in over 30 years. This
innovative new facility has been completed on-time and on-budget, and will help
to ensure that patients receive quality health care closer to home.”
The
hospital opened its doors to patients on Aug. 24 and the cancer centre began
treating patients on Aug. 25.
“The success of the Abbotsford Regional Hospital
and Cancer Centre project has served as the foundation for future investments
in health-care infrastructure,” said Abbott. “All across the province, we are
investing billions of dollars on new and expanded health facilities and
hospitals to improve access to services and reduce wait times.”
The Abbotsford
Regional Hospital
and Cancer Centre is also the first cancer centre in Western
Canada to be integrated into a hospital from the ground up.
"I am very happy for the people of
Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley that this beautiful new hospital is now a
reality," said Abbotsford-Clayburn MLA John van Dongen.
"Special thanks to everyone who championed its construction and all the
doctors, nurses and other hospital staff who will provide leading edge health
services for all citizens".
“This is a wonderful day, a day that we have been waiting 25 years for,”
said Mike de Jong, MLA for Abbotsford-Mount Lehman. “This historic day is the
culmination of a promise our government made and followed through on. Seeing
this dream become a reality and the patients being served by the dedicated staff
in this new facility represents a highlight of my political career,” added the
15-year veteran of provincial politics.
“The
300-bed Abbotsford Regional Hospital
is a world-class facility that will help meet our growing health-care needs in
the eastern Fraser
Valley,” said Dr. Nigel
Murray, CEO of Fraser Health. “As a regional hospital, this facility will
provide new and specialized services such as neonatal intensive care and
adolescent psychiatric care.”
“We
designed international best practices into our emergency department and these
are reflected in our two open trauma bays, and separate areas for pediatric,
mental health, and geriatric specialists,” said Dr. Reginald
Peters, emergency medical director, Abbotsford Regional
Hospital. “With
state-of-the-art equipment, our committed team of physicians, nurses, and
volunteers can provide enhanced emergency services to patients from
Abbotsford and neighbouring residents in the Fraser Valley.”
“Cancer outcomes in B.C. are among the best in Canada,” said Wynne
Powell, chair of the PHSA board of directors. “The opening of the new BC Cancer
Agency Abbotsford Centre brings with it the very latest technology for cancer
care and treatment and the benefits from this will be evident throughout the
region and across the province.”
“The Abbotsford Centre is an integral part of the agency’s
provincial cancer control system, providing care and research for the people of
B.C.,” said Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, president of the BC Cancer Agency, an agency
of the Provincial Health Services Authority. “The new cancer centre will
improve access to care for people with cancer in the Fraser Valley
and treat up to 2,500 patients a year.”
“Residents
of the Fraser Valley
have demonstrated the importance they place on health care by contributing
$71.3 million towards the construction and equipment cost of Abbotsford Regional
Hospital and Cancer Centre,” said
George Ferguson, chair of the Fraser Valley Regional Hospital District and
mayor of the City of Abbotsford.
“Their generosity will ensure that residents across the region will benefit
from leading-edge technology in a modern facility.”
The
hospital and cancer centre is 60,000 square metres, nearly three times the
physical size of the MSA
Hospital. The facility
has been designed and constructed to minimize the impact on the natural
environment and the facility is expected to consume nearly 40 per cent less
energy compared to a Model National Energy for Buildings-compliant hospital.
The savings in carbon dioxide emissions will be approximately 3,100 tons a year
and the cost savings nearly $500,000 a year.
The Abbotsford
Regional Hospital
and Cancer Centre is a public-private partnership involving the Ministry of
Health Services, Fraser Health, Provincial Health Services Authority/BC Cancer
Agency, Fraser Valley Regional Hospital District, Partnerships BC and AHA
Access Health Abbotsford Ltd. All health care services will be provided by the
health authorities and AHA Access Health Abbotsford Ltd. is responsible for
providing facilities management services.
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Media contact:
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Bridgitte Anderson
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 307-7177
|
Michelle Stewart,
Communications Director
Ministry of Health Services
250 812-5571 (cell)
250 952-1887 (media line)
|
|
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Fraser Health
Public Affairs
604 450-7881 (media pager)
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Nicole Adams
Director, Communications
BC Cancer Agency
604 675-8105
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