A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was released last week as the first step in selecting a qualified team to design, build, finance and maintain the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH).

 “Just a few weeks ago we announced approval of the business plan for a new patient care tower at PRH,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “And already we’ve reached the first important milestone in this exciting project in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.”

Premier Christy Clark announced the Penticton Regional Hospital Project on July 30, at an event in Penticton.

The project includes two phases. Phase one is construction of the new patient care tower which will include an ambulatory 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 tower will be approximately 26,700 square metres (287,500 square feet).

Phase two involves the renovation of vacated areas in the current hospital, including increasing the size of the emergency department to nearly four times its current size.

 “The release of the RFQ is a preliminary step towards what will be an economic surge for Penticton,” said Dan Ashton, Penticton MLA. “Not only will there be direct construction-related jobs created for the project, but the trickle-down will also positively affect sectors like retail and entertainment.”

The project is expected to create more than 1,910 direct and indirect jobs for workers over the life of the project.

The competitive selection process begins with the RFQ which invites teams to indicate their interest in and qualifications for phase one of the patient care tower project.

Respondent teams shortlisted during the RFQ process will then be invited to participate in the next stage of the process, the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage. Interior Health expects to choose a preferred proponent by late 2015 and sign a contract shortly thereafter.

It is anticipated construction will start in 2016, and the new patient care tower would open in 2019.

 “The start of any major project is always an exciting time and today is no different,” said Norman Embree, Interior Health board chair.

“We are embarking on a journey to provide the best possible health-care facility that will meet the needs of the region for decades to come.”

 The total budget for the project is $325 million. It 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.

  “I am extremely proud of the vision demonstrated by the Regional Hospital District in working to secure the new patient care tower for our citizens in the South Okanagan and Similkameen,” said Janice Perrino, RHD chair.

“We are excited to see what comes of the competitive selection process, and we are looking forward to working with whoever emerges as the successful proponent.”

“This is absolutely wonderful,” said Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells back in August when the province committed to providing the funding for the PRH expansion.

“It’s has been a very long time coming and is very much needed because the current hospital is old and overcrowded. The committee that has led the charge to get this expansion built has worked very, very hard for several years and I’m just thrilled this project is moving ahead.”

When Wells heard about Clark’s announcement, he said only one word.

“I yelled out yahoo,” he said smiling. “This is such a big and important project.”

Hundreds of new jobs will be created not only during the construction phase, but also once hospital expansion is completed, he said.

When completed, PRH will truly be a world-class regional hospital that will be able to offer quality healthcare and world-class programs and services to residents from across the South Okanagan, said Wells.

The regional hospital district board will also have to make a decision on how much of the remaining local share will be borrowed and how much more should be raised through taxes.

Interior Health is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and providing a wide range of quality health-care services to more than 742,000 people living across B.C.’s vast interior.

For more information on this project, visit www.buildingpatientcare.ca, or follow us on Twitter @Interior_Health.

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