The final phase of the St. Mary’s Hospital expansion is expected to start this summer, according to Larry Harder, director of capital projects with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
Harder told the Sunshine Coast Regional Hospital District at their Feb. 26 meeting that VCH expects go to tender on the project this June and start construction in July with a projected occupancy of September this year.
The final phase of the expansion project involves renovating the original hospital building to provide a new ambulatory care department, an updated endoscopy suite and more flexible space to accommodate additional acute care patient beds.
The total project budget is expected to come in at around $5.2 million.
Funds for the renovation are already in place as part of the overall $45 million hospital expansion budget.
The final phase of the expansion was put on hold in 2013 when VCH realized some needs in the community had changed since the plan was crafted in 2007. One major need identified when VCH revisited the plan was for more patient beds at the hospital.
The renovation will increase the number of beds onsite from 50 to 63.
Originally the St. Mary’s expansion was expected to be completed by October of 2012, but construction problems and technical difficulties stalled completion.
