Construction of the much-anticipated replacement of Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre has yet to scratch the surface, but the wheels of that project are turning.
The provincial government on Thursday sent out a request for qualifications to narrow down the search for a qualified team to build the 16-bed acute care facility, a project announced April 12.
Applicants who meet qualifications for building the hospital in Burns Lake will be later shortlisted in the request for the proposal process. Northern Health expects to have the successful builder identified by March 2013, and construction will begin shortly after that. The project is slated to be finished by the summer of 2015. The existing hospital was built in 1960.
"Today is the first of many milestones in the process of building a new hospital in Burns Lake, all of which are exciting news for patients, families and hospital staff," said Health Minister Michael de Jong.
The new hospital is expected to cost between $50 million and $55 million, with 80 per cent of the tab to be picked by the province and 20 per cent provided by the Stuart Nechako Regional Hospital District.
The facility will provide services for acute care, emergency, diagnostic imaging, a medical laboratory and pharmacy. It will also be a procedure room large enough to be used as an operating room for emergency surgery.
It will serve a population of about 5,000, drawing from Burns Lake, Francois Lake, Topley, Granisle, Endako, Grassy Plains and several First Nations villages in the area.
"This project will enable the provision of integrated health services and an excellent work environment for staff and physicians," said Cathy Ulrich, Northern Health CEO.
The Babine Lake Sawmill explosion and fire on Jan. 20 killed two workers and injured 19, which overwhelmed health staff and highlighted the need for improved services in Burns Lake, a three-hour drive west of Prince George.
The new building will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification specifications and will maximize the use of interior and exterior wood, as outlined in the Wood First Act.
"This is yet another example of our government accelerating investment to create jobs for the Burns Lake community in the aftermath of the Babine Forest Products tragedy," said Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell. "It's great to see this project move forward because it will create high-paying construction jobs in the local community as well as allow health care professionals to continue the excellent care they provide to residents."
