NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008OTP0226-001409 Sept. 18, 2008	Office of the Premier Ministry of Health Services Fraser Health
MORE BEDS AND NEW LARGER OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL FOR SURREY

SURREY – Patient care in Surrey and the Fraser Valley took a major step forward today as Premier Gordon Campbell announced the opening of 73 new acute care beds at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the start of construction on the new Surrey Outpatient Hospital – which has been expanded to be almost a third larger than originally planned.

 

“Surrey is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation and we are taking steps to meet the growing demand here for health care services now and in the future,” said Premier Campbell. “Combined with the recently-opened Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, these projects represent an investment in health care south of the Fraser River that is unprecedented in the history of our province.” 

 

The four-storey Outpatient Hospital is expected to accommodate approximately 450,000 annual outpatient visits when it opens, rising to 600,000 annual patient visits by 2020, with 17,500 square metres of new space and better facilities for day surgeries, health clinics and family medicine. The size of the Surrey Outpatient Hospital has increased 30 per cent from the initial concept plan in 2005 as a result of extensive planning by Fraser Health. The new hospital is expected to be complete in spring 2011, with a capital value of $239 million.

 

The size of the Surrey Outpatient Hospital will now be slightly larger than the total size of the Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, including the third rink that is under construction.

 

Fraser Health has completed 73 additional acute care inpatient beds including three ICU beds at SMH as part of a $30 million initiative, which is separate from the outpatient facility, launched in 2005 to build capacity, expand services and ease congestion pressures at SMH, the regional referral centre for Surrey, Langley, White Rock and Delta. The initiative includes a $10 million expansion of the hospital’s kidney dialysis unit, from 18 hemodialysis stations to 30 – to be completed by the end of 2008 – and reconfiguration of the laboratory and pharmacy.

 

“These investments are part of a broader strategy to meet the future health-care needs in Surrey and the region,” said Health Services Minister George Abbott. “The additional acute care beds at SMH represent a 26 per cent increase in Surrey for a total of 491 beds since Fraser Health was established.”

 

“I’m proud our government has taken definitive action to address the growing health-care needs of our communities,” said Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer. “Patients from Surrey, Delta, Langley and White Rock will all benefit from better access to care.”

 

“The community has worked hard to make these projects a reality,” said Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon. “We need to recognize all our partners in health care for their contributions and commitment in meeting the growing demand for health services in Surrey.”

 

At the outpatient hospital, patients and health professionals will also benefit from $45.8 million in brand-new, state-of-the-art medical equipment that includes one MRI scanner, two CT scanners, five radiology, three bone density, five ultrasound, three mammography, five nuclear medicine and 11 cardiac diagnostics machines.

 

“Patients and care providers will see tremendous benefits from improved access to patient-focused outpatient services,” said Fraser Health president and CEO Dr. Nigel Murray. “Providing outpatient services in a more efficient, integrated way at the new facility will help relieve some of the congestion at Surrey Memorial, and improve Fraser Health’s ability to meet the growing needs of communities in our region.”

 

“This project will be a very positive addition to the City of Surrey. As a one-of-a-kind facility it enhances Surrey’s reputation as a regional centre for excellent health care,” added Mayor Diane Watts.

 

The Surrey Outpatient Hospital is a public-private partnership between Fraser Health and BC Healthcare Solutions (BCHS). It is a fixed-price contract with BCHS to design, build, finance and maintain the facility. Fraser Health will retain ownership of the land and the facilities and will provide all health care services. The private partner will maintain the facility for a fixed-term of 30 years.

 

“We are pleased to partner with BC Healthcare Solutions, a team that combines the strength, innovation and experience of B.C.-based construction and architecture firms with international companies to deliver a world-class health care facility,” said Gordon Barefoot, Fraser Health board chair. “The new facility will be designed to achieve LEED Gold certification as part of our commitment to a greener and more sustainable future.”

 

The Surrey Health Services Capacity Initiative was launched in 2005 to ease congestion at SMH and address the growing health needs of the area. Components include:

·         Outpatient hospital to provide outpatient care and free up hospital space to expand acute services.

·         Renovations at SMH to create more kidney dialysis stations and additional care beds.

·         A new emergency and urgent care centre to triple existing floor space at SMH.

·         A new regional tertiary perinatal care facility for high-risk newborns.

 

The investment in Surrey is an example of how British Columbia’s health system will benefit from the Province’s $2.7-billion investment in a health-sector capital plan.

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2 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177	Michelle Stewart Communications Director Ministry of Health Services 250 952-1887 250 812-5571 (cell)
	David Plug Interim VP, Communications and Public Affairs Fraser Health 604 450-7881 (media pager)
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