Hospital for day surgery turns corner
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Updated: October 16, 2009 9:41 AM
It's still almost a year and a half away from opening, but the new $239-million Surrey Outpatient Hospital passed a construction milestone Thursday.
A ceremony was held to mark the completion of the roof and a time capsule was filled with artifacts and documents and placed in a wall to be opened in 2041.
The 17,500-square-metre facility being built in Green Timbers Park will see most day surgery procedures shifted there from Surrey Memorial Hospital, freeing up space and helping decongest the main hospital.
Health minister Kevin Falcon said the estimated 450,000 annual patient visits it will handle means 450,000 people won't be trying to cram into Surrey Memorial.
"This will revolutionize the delivery of health care for decades to come," he said.
Besides handling day surgeries, the hospital will handle MRI and CT scans, other diagnostics, various outpatient clinics and provide space for family doctors to provide enhanced primary care.
Clustering the services close together is expected to also result in faster diagnosis, reduced wait times and better health results.
The opening is slated for March of 2011.
NDP MLA Sue Hammell (Surrey-Green Timbers) called the event "another photo-op" designed to paper over the fact the project, originally promised to open in 2009, is well behind schedule.
"So far we've not actually had more service on the ground," Hammell said. "In fact, we've had cuts to acute care beds and cuts to Surrey Memorial."
Liberal MLA Dave Hayer (Surrey-Tynehead) said the construction progress refutes criticism that the project is "just a big hole in the ground."
The hospital is being built as a public-private partnership by BC Healthcare Solutions.
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