Royal Island Hospital Announces Plans for New $417 Million Patient Tower

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Royal Island Hospital in Kamloops, located near Vancouver, recently announced that it will develop a new patient tower, which is expected to be the largest single-building construction in the city. The provincial government made the announcement on Feb. 12, and a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued in May, with plans for the groundbreaking scheduled for 2018, according to the Vancouver Sun. The provincial government, in charge of the Interior Health Department (owner of The Royal Island Hospital), said the estimated opening for the new patient tower would be in 2022.

The construction of the new patient tower follows a recently completed $80 million clinical services building and parking garage at the hospital. When the new construction begins, it will take place on the east side of the hospital. It will be nine-stories tall and include 11 operating rooms, along with many other highlights.

The new tower will pay particular attention to interiors and 80 percent of rooms will be designed as private patient rooms. Plans include three floors of inpatient beds, including mental-health and medical/surgical beds, a new surgical suite, a perinatal center and private labor and delivery rooms, obstetrics and postpartum beds, and a neonatal ICU, according to the Vancouver Sun.

“The new patient care tower will support the delivery of high-quality care to the many patients from across Interior Health who require the services of our health-care professionals,” said Interior Health Board Chair John O’Fee to the Vancouver Sun. “In addition, the physical environment will enhance a safe and healthy workplace for our health care professionals.”

In the Feb. 12 announcement, the government explained how the funding for the hospital would be organized. With the high price tag, the government explained that funding will come from three main sources: $225 million from the Province and Interior Health, $172 million from the Thompson Regional Hospital District and $20 million from the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

“Royal Inland Hospital is a resource not just for Kamloops, but for the entire Thompson-Nicola region,” said Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar, who is also the Thompson Regional Hospital District chair, in a statement.

Royal Inland Hospital Board Chair Eric Davis said that the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation has been raising money for this type of project for 30 years, according to the Vancouver Sun.

In addition to the tower, renovations will be made to existing parts of Royal Inland Hospital, including an expansion to the existing emergency department, doubling the current space. Renovations will also be made to the pediatric unit, among other departments, and construction project will include underground and surface parking as well as a permanent heliport on top of the building.