B.C. government to expand embattled Surrey Memorial Hospital

The B.C. government announced Wednesday it plans to expand Surrey Memorial Hospital, which has been the subject of weeks of reporting highlighting major concerns from the doctors and nurses who work there.

It got so bad at Surrey Memorial, some doctors reported it could take some patients as long as three days to get a diagnosis and transfer to a proper ward.

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Health Minister Adrian Dix says the government will expand the hospital in addition to a previous commitment to build a second hospital in Surrey.

“More details on this expansion at Surrey Memorial will be identified in the next five months as we update our refreshed clinical service plan through the fall 2023 annual capital planning process,” he said.

Dix says the expansion will increase capacity for more inpatient and outpatient care, surgeries, and clinical programs at the hospital.

“It’s clearly the case, and has always been the case, that Surrey needs the second hospital and needs a stronger Surrey Memorial Hospital — and the two are linked, right? Because Surrey Memorial Hospital takes everything, which sometimes negatively affects its ability to expand for specialization.”

“We were adding significant number of patients in our hospitals that need to be cared for on the wards. We’re seeing that increase in demand and that requires an increase in resources.”

Dix says he is “grateful” that workers at SMH have brought forward their concerns, and adds the ministry and Fraser Health are working together to create “meaningful solutions.”

Plans for the hospital also include building a second radiology suite, along with expanding the hours of the Urgent Cane Response Centre and Gateway Mental Health services to be open 12 hours daily.