Premier David Eby says the B.C. government has plans underway to build a new critical care tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital, adding capacity for surgical, pediatric, perinatal, women's health, mental health and stroke care.
Eby says Surrey's health-care services need to grow along with its population.
We’re doing things differently. We are building a new hospital and a new medical school, and now, a new acute care tower is coming to Surrey Memorial Hospital. This means more hospital beds for people to access the care they need.
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) March 12, 2024
Learn more: https://t.co/SRfPtsWlg9
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Surrey’s quickly growing population needs health care to grow with it. That’s why we’re building a new acute care tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital. This means that more people south of the Fraser River will be able to get the care they need. https://t.co/SRfPtsWlg9 pic.twitter.com/mQj8GRt0h6
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) March 12, 2024
The premier says the province is at stage where it will soon start asking for feedback from health professionals who work at the hospital.
"Surrey is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and will soon surpass Vancouver as the largest city in all of BC" says Harp Dhillon, Chair of the Board of Directors for Surrey Hospitals Foundation. "What we've heard today is a momentous step forward to ensure that our communities south of the Fraser River will have the equitable care they deserve and that healthcare investment in our region will keep pace with the needs of our communities."
The announcement comes after the B.C. government outlined 30 actions to improve access to health care for people in Surrey last June, a list that included reviewing site needs at Surrey Memorial.
Eby says Surrey's second hospital with a cancer care centre is already under construction, and the city will be home to a new medical school in partnership with Simon Fraser University.
"We applaud and are excited to work together with the government, Fraser Health, our healthcare colleagues, and our supporters to help bring this new acute care tower online and operational for our community" says Nicole Robson, President and CEO of Surrey Hospitals Foundation. "Hearing that healthcare professionals will be at the heart of this project-from the planning stages all the way to the tower's opening and beyond-is important for the sake of providing exceptional care for our diverse community. Our Foundation is committed to supporting our healthcare experts and equipping them to have the biggest impact they can for patients and their families in our region."
The premier also used the announcement in Surrey to take jabs at his political rival, BC United Leader Kevin Falcon, saying that when the Opposition was in power Falcon slowed down health-care improvements in Surrey by selling land initially set aside for a second hospital.
