Hospital on its way

New Fort St. James hospital receives business plan approval

Jan 19, 2020 | 8:13 AM

FORT ST. JAMES – The Province announced its approval of the project business plan that will put a new hospital in the community of Fort St. James.

The new hospital is said to be three times larger than the current facility with 27 beds, including 18 long-term care beds. The new facility will have an emergency department with two treatment rooms, a trauma bay and an ambulance bay. A laboratory and diagnostic imaging will also be part of the new facility.

“This project will give the community an economic boost, with hundreds of new construction jobs and the highest quality health care for people in the region,” said Premier John Horgan. “This is all part of our plan to deliver better health care, closer to home.”

The hospital will include a primary care centre that will consolidate services currently being offered in Fort St. James to one location, reducing the distance patients and staff need to go for diagnostic imaging and lab services. It will be home to physicians, visiting specialists, substance-use supports, home and community care, and public health.

The estimated project cost is $116 million, shared between the Province through Northern Health, and Stuart-Nechako Regional Hospital District, which will contribute $20 million.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2021 on the same site as the existing hospital. Once completed, the existing building will be demolished to make room for parking. The hospital is targeted to open for patients in 2024.

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