Northern Health is pleased to announce that the contract for Phase II construction on the GR Baker Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit redevelopment has been awarded to True Construction Ltd. of Kamloops.
True Construction will begin construction work on the redevelopment project in September 2020, with expected occupancy in Spring 2022.
“Our government is taking another step forward to deliver a new state-of-the-art facility at GR Baker Memorial Hospital,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This project, with the addition of the Urgent and Primary Care Centre in Quesnel, demonstrates our commitment to improvements in the delivery of services to the families in this region and Northern BC so that they can have better access to the quality health care they need, when they need it.”
The newly-redeveloped, approximately 1,550 square-metre (16,684 square-feet) Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit space at G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital will co-locate the departments. This will improve patient flow, access to imaging and labs, security, privacy & confidentiality, and the alignment of critical care services and staff between two areas of care.
The project value is $27 million and is being cost-shared between the provincial government through Northern Health, and Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD), which is providing 40% of the funding.
“Both the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District and the City of Quesnel are very excited to see this long-awaited hospital expansion project get started in earnest,” said CCRHD Chair Bob Simpson. “The new ICU and ER will improve health care service delivery for the North Cariboo by creating a more modern, efficient, and effective space for both health care workers and their patients.”
The project is being done in regular consultation with First Nations and the Ministry of Health, recognizing the cultural and historical significance this site has for indigenous people and their history.