$417-million patient-care tower finally gets green light at Kamloops hospital

The much-anticipated patientcare tower at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops has been given the green light by the provincial government.

Officials confirmed on Monday what has previously been reported, that the surgical tower will follow the recently completed $80-million clinical-services building and parkade.

The $417-million tower will rise on the east side of the hospital. It will climb to nine storeys and have 11 operating rooms, among other features.

A request for proposals will go out in May — the month of the provincial election — with shovels expected in the ground in 2018. Estimated opening year is 2022.

The business plan includes analysis of health-services needs and delivery options, the project’s scope, procurement plan and a funding analysis.

Health Minister Terry Lake, who is MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, said the tower will be the single-largest construction project in the city’s history, with 2,400 construction jobs expected to be created.

Eighty per cent of patient rooms are expected to be private, with 20 per cent being wards.

The tower is expected to be home to three floors of in-patient beds, including mental-health and medical/surgical beds; a new surgical suite; a perinatal centre and private labour and delivery rooms, obstetrics and postpartum beds; and a neonatal intensive-care unit.

The project is also expected to include underground and surface parking and a permanent heliport on top of the building.

In addition to the tower, renovations will be made to existing parts of Royal Inland Hospital, including an expansion to the existing emergency department, doubling the current space.

Renovations will also be made to the pediatric unit, post-anesthetic recovery department and the morgue.

The $417-million budget is being funded from three sources: $225 million from the province and Interior Health;

$172 million from the Thompson Regional Hospital District;

$20 million from the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

“The new patient care tower will support the delivery of high-quality care to the many patients from across Interior Health who require the services of our health-care professionals,” said Interior Health Board chair John O’Fee.

“In addition, the physical environment will enhance a safe and healthy workplace for our greatest resource, our health-care professionals.”

“Royal Inland Hospital is a resource not just for Kamloops but for the entire Thompson-Nicola region,” said Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar, who is also Thompson Regional Hospital District chair.

Royal Inland Hospital Board chair Eric Davis noted the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation has raised money for 30 years.