Budgets and timelines are right on schedule for two major Sunshine Coast health care projects.
Representatives from Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) were on hand at the June 23 Regional Hospital District (RHD) board meeting where they presented their latest project updates, including the nearly $44 million expansion and renovation of St. Mary's Hospital and the Kiwanis Village Tertiary Mental Health Care Facility in Gibsons.
The hospital expansion includes a new emergency department, diagnostic imaging centre, a 36-bed in-patient unit, a four-bed labour and delivery unit and upgrades to the lobby and main entrance. As for renovations, work will take place on the ambulatory care unit, 13-bed in-patient unit, six-bed mental health care unit and a new fume hood for the pharmacy.
While the project is successfully moving forward, RHD members shared their concerns over the closure of the hospital's heliport due to a construction crane.
Don Jenion, senior project manager for the St. Mary's expansion, said the crane will hopefully be taken down by October or November, and during the closure, helicopter operations are being conducted out of the airport. Hovercraft may also be used to transport patients out of St. Mary's, he said.
VCH representatives said the airport procedures have not caused any patient care issues.
Larry Harder, VCH regional director of facilities development and planning, said so far there has been only one construction delay and that was encountered while drilling for the geo-exchange heating system, putting the project one month behind.
Although project managers were happy to report the project is on budget, they also pointed out there are no budget savings, and the contingent reserve of $380,000 may be required for future use.
Completion of the hospital's expansion is scheduled for August 2012. Renovations to existing parts continue and aim to wrap up in June or July of 2013.
Roberts Creek director Donna Shugar said she was glad to see local contractors being used on the project, adding she felt it was important for the community.
VCH officials said the Kiwanis Village project should be completed by March of 2012.
