The $325 Million Penticton Hospital Expansion Will Finally Become a Reality

Big news out of Penticton on Wednesday as the new $325 million patient care tower will move ahead, as announced by Premier Christy Clark at a chamber luncheon.

Following approval by the provincial government of a business plan from Interior Heath the new six story facility will move forward.

Concept of what the new hospital could look like (Photo Credit: Screen Grab)

“As Penticton continues to grow, so does the demand on services Penticton families rely on, including the hospital. We committed to moving forward with a new patient care tower, and today we’re moving forward,” said Premier Christy Clark. “This is a crucial step in the right direction.”

The Penticton Regional Hospital Patient Care Tower will include approximately 26,700 square metres (287,500 square feet) of new health care facilities. This project will significantly improve access to services, and improve patient care through the consolidation of programs currently distributed throughout the hospital.

A Request for Qualifications will now be drafted as preparations begin for design, build and finance of the new tower.

Concept of what the new hospital could look like (Photo Credit: Screen Grab)

“This project is first and foremost about building patient care in the South Okanagan-Similkameen,” said Dan Ashton, Penticton MLA. “This project has been my top priority and I am pleased that it will be designed from a patient-focused perspective, with extensive input from clinical staff.”

The Penticton Regional Hospital Project will be constructed in two phases. Phase one will include the construction of a new patient care tower. The tower will have a new walk-in care centre, surgical services centre, 84 medical/surgical inpatient beds in single patient rooms, a new medical device reprocessing unit, and space for the UBC Faculty of Medicine Program.

The project will be funded jointly by the provincial government, with $122 million provided by the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District and $20 million provided by the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. It is expected to create more than 1910 jobs for workers over the life of the project.

Concept of what the new hospital could look like (Photo Credit: Screen Grab)

“This is tremendous news for everyone living in the South Okanagan and Similkameen,” said RHD Chair Janice Perrino. “As partners with the Provincial Government and the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation in this vital project, we look forward to working with the communities to make the hospital expansion a reality. The day will come when we can all celebrate as a region the opening of our patient care tower which will provide excellent health-care for decades to come.”

The patient care tower will be efficiently-designed and user-friendly. It will support staff and physician recruitment by offering the opportunity for medical professionals to work in a newly-designed clinical environment that will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-certified.