Moving services around Richmond Hospital to make room for upcoming construction is like a “complicated game of Tetris,” Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) explained.
So far, the Healthy Heart Program – Cardiac Rehabilitation has been from the Rotunda to the Garratt Wellness Centre, located at 7504 Chelsea Pl., a six-minute drive from Richmond Hospital.
And the Cast Clinic, Hand Clinic and Translation Services have been temporarily relocated within Richmond Hospital, making way for the Cancer Care Clinic in the Milan Ilich Pavilion.
Richmond-Steveston MLA Kelly Greene told the News a couple weeks ago that the hospital rebuild project has had a “slight delay” due to the pandemic.
VCH released some more details Friday about how the project is coming along.
A new rendering of the project shows a greenspace where the North Tower is currently situated and the new acute-care tower located farther back on the property, close to Minoru Chapel.
The rebuild project is in phase one, and Sharon Petty, chief project officer and executive director, said VCH is working “diligently” in preparation for the demolition of the Park Centre and the Rotunda.
“To create space for the new nine-floor acute care tower, the Yurkovich Family Pavillion, a number of programs and offices need to be moved,” she said in an online post. “These moves are like a complicated game of Tetris. It’s important that we maintain the continuity of care for our clinical services, so every step we take must be done thoughtfully and in consultation with our clinical and medical teams.”
The Sacred Space has also temporarily relocated within Richmond Hospital to facilitate renovations.
From fall 2023 to fall 2024, the Park Centre and the Rotunda will be demolished and the site will be preloaded for construction of the new tower, VCH explained.
The Psychiatric Emergency Unit will be also relocated in the fall to outside the South Tower.
While a new hospital has been planned for years, the BC NDP government, when elected in 2017, expanded the scope of the project.
“We took a look and said we have to do a bigger, better hospital because of the needs we have in Richmond,” Greene said. “And I think that was really worthwhile - stop and pause and do the right project.”
The new tower will have 216 beds and is expected to be completed by 2028.
The new tower will include an 82-bed emergency room, up from the current 60 beds, and 11 operating rooms, while currently there are eight. Pre- and post-surgical care spaces will increase from 26 to 69.
In total, when rebuilt, the hospital will have 353 beds, 113 more than it currently has.
Greene said the project will “replace most of the hospital.”
For updates on the Richmond Hospital Redevelopment Project, go to engage.vch.ca/rhr
