Quesnel's hospital is getting a $27 million upgrade to its emergency room and intensive care unit.
On Tuesday, Northern Health announced it had awarded the contract for construction of the roughly 16,700 sq. foot redevelopment at G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital. True Construction Ltd. of Kamloops is expected to begin work on the project this month, with completion aimed at the spring of 2022.
“Both the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District and the City of Quesnel are very excited to see this long-awaited hospital expansion project get started in earnest,” Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson said in a press release. “The new ICU and ER will improve health care service delivery for the north Cariboo by creating a more modern, efficient, and effective space for both health care workers and their patients.”
Simpson is the chairperson of the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District, which is providing 40 per cent of the funding for the project.
The project will the upgraded emergency room located next to the five-room intensive care unit.
"This will improve patient flow, access to imaging and labs, security, privacy (and) confidentiality, and the alignment of critical care services and staff between two areas of care," a statement issued by Northern Health said.
