Construction begins on $84-million hospital expansion in White Rock

Noting that patients will soon be able to “access more surgeries and a bigger emergency department,” the BC government announced today that work has begun to expand the emergency department, reprocessing department, and surgical suite and facilities at White Rock’s Peace Arch Hospital.

“The White Rock-South Surrey area is growing and we understand the importance of making sure the proper health-care services are in place so people can get the services they rely on,” said BC’s Health Minister Adrian Dix.

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The Ministry of Health said that through the regional health authority, it is providing $46.7 million, and the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation is providing $37 million, for a total project cost of $83.7 million.

“This critically needed expansion in surgical and emergency care in our community is long overdue,” said Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Beck. “Our incredibly generous donors rallied together in a tidal wave of support to ensure their families, friends and neighbours can receive quality health care, close to home.”

In making the announcement, the province said that the prior plan – announced in April 2017 – left “unresolved questions” about the provincial government’s share of the funding. “Furthermore, the plans significantly underestimated the cost of the project,” they added.

The expanded emergency department will more than double the number of treatment spaces to 50 from 24. It will also include a dedicated space for children and families, as well as a mental-health and substance-use space.

It will include an emergency triage area designed to “ensure privacy,” a dedicated ambulance entrance, and more treatment areas including specific paediatric and mental-health and substance-use spaces.

The surgical suite will be built above the new, expanded emergency area, boosting the number of surgeries that will be able to be performed at the hospital.

Construction work is expected to be complete in late 2021.