SURREY – People in Surrey are a step closer to a new Surrey hospital and cancer centre with the issuing of the request for qualifications (RFQ).
“Our government is delivering on its commitment of a new hospital for people in Surrey and we are moving forward with procurement now underway,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This is the first stage of the procurement process and invites teams to express their interest and qualifications for designing and building the hospital, which will help meet the public health-care demands of the fast-growing community.”
Through the RFQ process, Fraser Health will identify a short list of up to three qualified proponents who will be invited to participate in the next step of the competitive selection process, the request for proposal (RFP) stage. That determines which proponent will be chosen to lead the design and construction of the project.
The RFQ process is expected to be finalized in early 2022, followed by the RFP process. Construction is expected to start in 2023 with the facility being ready for patients in 2027.
“We are excited to take this next step forward in the development of a new hospital for Surrey, and, in partnership with BC Cancer, the addition of a fourth cancer centre to our region,” said Dr. Victoria Lee, Fraser Health president and chief executive officer. “The new Surrey hospital and cancer centre will be a fully digital community hospital within Fraser Health’s integrated regional smart system of care and, by providing a virtual first, responsive environment at the new hospital, we can better support patient-centred care while increasing access for patients and their families, closer to home.”
People will benefit from things such as increased training and employment opportunities for Indigenous people and other under-represented groups (such as people of colour, women, youth and people with disabilities), more apprentice hours, and promotion of Indigenous culture, which will be achieved through enhanced procurement and contract terms.
The new hospital will significantly expand the availability of health-care services for people in Surrey and is designed to serve the local community now and into the future. It will have 168 in-patient beds, a surgical/perioperative suite with five operating rooms, four procedure rooms, an emergency department with 55 treatment spaces, and virtual care options in all clinical service areas. The facility will also have a medical imaging department, including three computed tomography (CT) scanners and two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, pharmacy, laboratory and academic space.
Additionally, there will be a dedicated area for spiritual care and family gatherings that support cultural diversity and spiritual practices.
The new integrated cancer centre will include an oncology/ambulatory care unit with 50 exam rooms, 54 chemotherapy treatment spaces and room for six linear accelerators for radiation therapy to provide care and support for people diagnosed with cancer.
“By 2030, we expect that almost 40,000 British Columbians will be diagnosed with cancer every year, with one of the largest increases in the Fraser Health region,” said Dr. David Byres, president and chief executive officer, Provincial Health Services Authority. “Through our partnership with Fraser Health, we’re building our provincial capacity, ensuring British Columbians continue to experience some of the best cancer outcomes in Canada. BC Cancer provides an invaluable service improving these outcomes and providing the support patients and their families need.”
The project also includes a child care centre and approximately 730 parking spots, which includes 375 surface spaces and 355 underground.
The total project cost is estimated at $1.66 billion and is currently funded by the Province. Fraser Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority are working with the Surrey Hospitals Foundation and BC Cancer Foundation to explore potential funding opportunities.
A backgrounder follows.
For translations: https://news.gov.bc.ca/25803#translations
Contacts:
Ministry of Health
Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)
Fraser Health
Communications
media@fraserhealth.ca
604 613-0794 (media line)
BACKGROUNDER
What people are saying about the new Surrey hospital and cancer centre
Mike Starchuk, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale –
“Surrey is growing fast and our government recognized the need to make sure people would continue to have access to public health-care services with a new hospital and cancer centre in Cloverdale that helps people stay in their communities when seeking treatment. I look forward to watching development continue.”
Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood –
“The start of the procurement process is a milestone for the new hospital and cancer centre, which means we are closer to the actual construction work getting underway – this is big news for our region and our province.”
Rachna Singh, MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers –
“People in Surrey are looking forward to the new hospital and cancer centre and it’s great to see this important step taken to move forward the procurement process.”
Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford –
“The new hospital and cancer centre will help people in Surrey access health-care services more quickly, and the news of the RFQ process getting underway is a vital step towards seeing shovels go in the ground in 2023.”
Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton –
“I thank all of the partners in this project who have worked so hard to get us to this phase and I look forward to seeing the project move forward with construction on the horizon.”
Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama –
“People in the community are looking forward to the new hospital and cancer centre and this news of the RFQ process getting started means a crucial step is underway. I thank all those involved for getting us to this point.”
Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley –
“Our government committed to a new hospital in Surrey and this step brings us closer to even higher-quality public health care for people in the community.”
Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North –
“The new hospital and cancer centre means people in the region will have access to better care and with the procurement process underway, we look forward to the start of construction, which will also help the local economy with the jobs to be created.”
Contacts:
Ministry of Health
Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)
Fraser Health
Communications
media@fraserhealth.ca
604 613-0794 (media line)
