PORT ALBERNI – A $6.25-million emergency department redevelopment will support improvements to patient care and privacy at West Coast General Hospital according to a press release from the provincial Ministry of Health.
John McNabb
“The emergency department is a busy place, and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional Hospital District is very pleased to support this renovation. We know it will greatly benefit patients in the years to come,” said John McNabb, chair of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional Hospital District.
A request for proposals was issued Jan. 14, 2021, for a construction manager to lead the emergency department redevelopment project. Construction is expected to begin in March 2021 with completion in summer 2022.
“Expanding and improving the emergency department at West Coast General Hospital is critical not just for Port Alberni, but all of the West Coast communities. This is a significant pledge for our foundation, but we believe it is the right thing to do for all of the families who will need the services of this hospital in the future,” said Chris Francey, business director of the West Coast General Hospital Foundation.
The redevelopment will include a 244 square-metre (2,626 square-foot) expansion, as well as improvements to the existing emergency department space. The project will add three new patient exam beds, extra space for patients awaiting tests and results, a private, safe seclusion room for patients in need of emergency mental health care, improvements to the triage and admitting area, and two separate entrances for ambulances and the general public.
“West Coast General Hospital is an important part of the community and region, and is also very busy with more than 25,000 patient visits to the emergency department in 2019-20 from not only Port Alberni, but also Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield and surrounding areas,” said Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid-Island-Pacific Rim. “It’s great to see action being taken to upgrade the emergency department, which will improve patient privacy and make it easier for larger family groups to accompany their loved ones.”
The project’s costs are being shared between the Province, which is providing $2.55 million; the West Coast General Hospital Foundation, which has pledged $2 million and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional Hospital District, which will contribute $1.7 million.