Richmond city councillors are once again renewing their call to the provincial government to expedite the construction of a new north tower at Richmond Hospital.
On Monday, at a committee meeting, council listened, once again, to the grave concerns over the existing tower from hospital staff and members of the Richmond Hospital Foundation.
“We’re constantly juggling resources,” said Dr. Ken Poon, head of surgery.
At issue is an overutilized tower that, according to assessments, would be at serious risk of collapse in a moderate to strong earthquake. Furthermore, the ground-floor facilities are beneath the flood plain.
“Where will these patients go in the event of an earthquake? I don’t have the answer for that. I don’t think anyone has the answer,” said Poon.
In its own survey, the foundation claims the majority of residents deem the hospital as the first infrastructure priority for Richmond. Upgrading schools was second.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie took a shot at the provincial government for building a bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel, instead.
“The government can commit to whatever it wants to,” said Brodie.
“We need a hospital (tower) not a bridge,” chimed Coun. Bill McNulty.
Hospital foundation CEO Natalie Meixner pointed out that a number of cities have had funds committed for their hospitals, ahead of Richmond.
“It seems like we’re being under served,” said Coun. Derek Dang.
“When will it be Richmond’s turn and how long do we have to wait?” stated Meixner, whose foundation has raised $25 million of the $40 million it said it would to put towards the estimated $283 million project.
Last month, the proposed acute care tower was named after the Yurkovich family after they made the single-biggest donation in the foundation’s history.
There was some good news to report, said Meixner.
After local MLAs announced the first phase of planning last June, Vancouver Coastal Health has since completed the initial concept plan “well ahead of schedule” and submitted it to the Ministry of Health.
Now, the ministry must advance the concept to the business plan stage, noted Meixner.
Richmond Centre MLA Teresa Wat, first elected in 2013, said last month that she has been pursuing the ministry for the new hospital tower, but said no funds have been earmarked for the project over the next three years, adding it could take up to seven years for it to be completed.
The foundation points to engineer reports from 2005 and 2011, commissioned by the health authority, that note the tower’s state of disrepair.
Poon said the tower is presently 79 per cent deficient and it’s becoming more expensive to maintain than it would be to tear down and rebuild.
“This needs to get moving as fast as it possibly can,” said Meixner.
Recent upgrades across B.C
• Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital - $473 million
• Pentiction Hospital - $312 million
• Campbell River/Comox Valley hospitals - $600 million
• Vancouver General Hospital (OR) - $102 million
• Royal Columbian Hospital - $259 million
• Burnaby Hospital (planning phase) - $517 million
Source: Richmodn Hospital Foundation
