The Government of British Columbia announced that people in Terrace and surrounding areas have access to the new state-of-the-art Ksyen Regional Hospital (formerly Mills Memorial Hospital), which is now open.
“People in Terrace had been asking for an upgraded health-care facility for years, and our government recognized the need and took action to make sure it happened,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “British Columbians deserve access to health care in modern, cutting-edge facilities and we are excited to be able to provide this to the community. We will continue to invest in capital health projects around the province.”
The new hospital is more than twice the size of the previous facility and has 82 beds, private rooms, a bigger emergency department space, including two trauma bays, six stretcher bays, pediatric care space and four operating rooms, as well as the latest diagnostic imaging equipment.
The hospital opened ahead of schedule. Initially, construction was anticipated to be complete in 2025.
“People in Terrace and throughout the province expect health care they can rely on when they or their loved ones need it,” said Debra Toporowski, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health. “With the new Ksyen Regional Hospital, we’re strengthening local care so fewer people will have to travel for services they need and more people can receive care in their own community.”
Work is underway to have the new hospital serve as a Level 3 trauma centre, upgraded from its current designation as Level 4, to support communities in northwestern B.C. by providing immediate assessment, resuscitation, surgery and intensive care. This new certification will allow more patients to be cared for locally without needing to be transported to another facility.
“The opening of Ksyen Regional Hospital marks a significant milestone in a long journey for our team, our partners and all those living in the northwest. The new Ksyen Regional Hospital will set a standard of excellence for care in the northwest and will be a significant benefit for all those who call the region home. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our partners, the project team, our staff, and our medical staff for going above and beyond these last years to bring us to this day,” said Colleen Nyce, board chair, Northern Health.
The new hospital will also include a Tier 3 neonatal intensive care unit and special care nursery, which will provide community-based antenatal and postnatal services, education and parenting support to pregnant individuals, especially those at a higher risk of pregnancy complications compared to Tier 1 and 2 services.
The project cost of $633 million is being shared between the provincial government, through Northern Health, and the North West Regional Hospital District, which is contributing $120.2 million.
Work has been completed or is underway throughout B.C. to plan, build or upgrade 30 hospitals or health facilities, 11 long-term care centres and four cancer centres.
Featured image: (Northern Health)
