A new acute care tower for Richmond Hospital appears to be on the way, after local MLAs rolled out the red carpet Thursday morning to announce the provincial government will begin planning to replace the existing 50-year-old facility.

The announcement to begin planning came just over three months after the Richmond Hospital Foundation proactively went to the media to raise awareness over the ageing north tower, which would likely collapse, or be seriously compromised, in the event of a modest earthquake, according to seismic reports.

article continues below

Few specific details were announced other than the commencement of planning.

The planning stage is expected to take about three years.

In February, Vancouver Coastal Health spokesperson Gavin Wilson told the Richmond News a new tower, if approved this year, would take about seven years to complete, at an estimated cost of up to $283 million.

Richmond Centre MLA Teresa Wat said the announcement was an important step for Richmond Hospital.

Via a prepared statement, Health Minister Terry Lake noted “the concept plan will look at what the community needs now, and in the future.”

Once it is determined how big the new facility must be, it is expected the new tower will provide for mostly private rooms, have new, modern equipment and be designed to improve patient flows, noted a Ministry of Health statement.

One of the impetuses for a new tower, other than its deteriorating condition, is Richmond’s ageing population — in just 14 years the senior population is expected to increase by 121 per cent.

The ceremony was attended by local politicians and board members of Vancouver Coastal Health and the Richmond Hospital Foundation.

“The facility is outdated and not reflective of the care that’s provided,” said RHF chair Kyle Shury.