Today, Health Minister Terry Lake, along with local MLAs and representatives from Fraser Health and the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation, officially opened Surrey Memorial Hospital’s critical care tower, which is a part of the hospital’s $512-million redevelopment and expansion project.
“Thanks to this new facility, health-care professionals will be able to deliver the best-possible care for families in a larger, modern environment with more beds, space, equipment and staff,” said Lake. “The critical care tower will go a long way in meeting the health-care needs of the rapidly growing Fraser Valley.”
The new eight-storey tower creates an additional 151 beds for Surrey Memorial, increasing the capacity by 30%, to 650 beds and adds an additional 650 direct care staff and over 300 clinical support staff.
“Residents of Surrey and other Fraser Health communities now have an improved health-care environment that is truly patient-centred.” said Dr. David Ostrow, Fraser Health interim president and CEO. “Eighty per cent of the tower rooms are single-patient for more privacy and better infection prevention and control. Each room includes a ‘family zone’ with a sofa bed or recliner so families can stay close to their loved ones.”
The tower will double the capacity of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for high-risk babies and includes BC’s first Ronald McDonald Family Room where moms and dads can take a break while being just steps away from their child in hospital.
The tower also has expanded stroke and intensive care units as well as other specialized units. There is an expanded hospital laboratory that uses new robotics and automated technology, and a new neonatal and paediatric pharmacy right in the NICU, the first of its kind in Canada.
“Surrey Memorial Hospital has a proud history of providing exceptional care for patients at every stage of life, from newborns to seniors. Thanks to the support of the community and the province, our staff and physicians now have a state-of-the-art facility to serve the growing needs of patients and families from across the region for many years to come," said Ron Knight, Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation board chair.
The University of British Columbia’s faculty of medicine will be located within the tower and will allow Fraser Health to expand Surrey Memorial’s role as a clinical academic campus. In partnership with UBC, a new simulation lab includes life-like manikins which can be used by physicians, staff and students to practice clinical skills and teamwork.
In October 2013, Fraser Health, together with the Government of BC, officially opened Surrey Memorial’s new emergency department, Canada’s second-largest and the province’s busiest, with more than 117,000 visits last year, an increase of more than 17% from the year previous.
