The community of Fort St. James will be getting a brand new hospital.
The provincial government has given the green light for Stuart Lake Hospital Replacement Project, officially approving the concept plan.
Discussions regarding the replacement of the hospital in Fort St. James have been ongoing since 2008. The original hospital opened in 1972 and is now outdated in terms of functionality, technology, and space needed to serve the community, according to a press release.
It’s a go! New hospital will bring better care for people living in #FortStJames, local First Nations, growing seniors populations and surrounding area. @jjhorgan @scottfraserndp @Northern_Health pic.twitter.com/uYliPyNFs2
— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) October 9, 2018
The current hospital has 12 beds and offers emergency, acute, complex, and residential care, lab and X-ray services, and mental health and addictions counselling.
“The new hospital will bring better acute, primary and community care for people living in Fort St. James, local First Nations and the surrounding area. For a growing senior population in the region and for the economy as a whole, it is an essential public service,” says Health Minister Adrian Dix in the release.
In September 2015, Northern Health submitted a concept plan to the Ministry of Health. Northern Health submitted a revised concept plan to the government in the summer of 2018, which was approved in October 2018.
“I want to acknowledge the support and commitment of the Stuart-Nechako Hospital District, the community of Fort St. James, and the Nak'azdli Whut'en (Fort St. James), Yekooche First Nation, Tl'azt'en Nation (Tache, Binche, Middle River) and Takla Lake First Nation,” says Dix, adding “economic optimism is returning to the region after an incredibly difficult summer as a result of wildfires. I know we will continue to work together as we develop the business plan and build the hospital.”
The project now moves to the business plan phase, which finalizes details such as scope and budget. This stage takes approximately 12 to 18 months and upon approval of the business plan, the project will proceed to procurement and then construction.
