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The Burnaby Hospital Foundation announced Monday that legendary B.C. businessman Jimmy Pattison will match up to $5 million in donations towards the redevelopment campaign to upgrade Burnaby Hospital.
Phase one of Burnaby Hospital’s redevelopment focuses on four key services: expanding emergency care, improving surgery services, creating a new maternity centre and building a new mental health unit.
“I’ve always believed in giving back and supporting communities to help people get the health care they need,” Jim Pattison said in a statement. “I am proud to make this contribution to help Burnaby Hospital provide people with excellent medical care close to home.”
The first phase of redevelopment is estimated to cost $612 million and is funded by the Province and the Burnaby Hospital Foundation. Total cost of the project will be $1.4 billion.
The hospital sees about 200,000 patients a year, with 83,000 emergency department visits.
Kristy James, president and CEO of the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, said it’s important to keep health on the forefront of our minds.
“The hospital has been at the heart of this community for a long time and the Proud History, Bright Future redevelopment is a meaningful way for any individual to give back,” James said.
The foundation encourages the community in Burnaby and East Vancouver to consider giving in support of the hospital.
Burnaby Hospital has reached its capacity, with no major renovations in the last 40 years. The older facility has created challenges to supporting patients, including a lack of space to expand surgery and emergency. Currently there are nursing units where most patients share rooms and bathrooms.
The redevelopment’s first phase will include 83 beds of primarily single-patient rooms with private bedrooms. There will also be a mental health and substance use unit with a secured outdoor patio.
Dr. Tim Kostamo, head of orthopedic surgery at Burnaby Hospital and a board member at the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, said an updated hospital with new and improved operating rooms will be “amazing.”
“I can’t wait to have [our medical team] work in a world‐class facility designed to encourage even more cutting‐edge innovation,” Kostamo said.
Construction on phase one is expected to be completed in 2026.
