St Paul’s Hospital to Close, New False Creek Facility to be Built
bySt Paul’s Hospital has stood on Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver for the last 100 years and Providence Health Care announced this morning that it is set to close, with a new facility and health care campus being built in the vicinity of Main and Terminal in False Creek.
St Paul’s Hospital to Close, New False Creek Facility to be Built
Providence Health Care operates 16 health care facilities in Greater Vancouver, including St Paul’s. Here’s more information from their press release this morning:
The new hospital will continue as one of British Columbia’s two most specialized hospitals for adults. It will also be at the centre of a network of new and existing dedicated primary care services in the region, including services to support those living in Vancouver’s West End. In addition, as part of the Station Street development, Providence will look at building a number of social housing units to provide affordable housing options for Vancouver residents.
Planning for the new hospital and integrated health care campus will include the following key components: A new, full-service critical care hospital; 24/7 primary care services; chronic disease management services; mental health and addictions beds and programs; on-site residential care beds and programs; ambulatory services and outpatient clinics; non-acute medical services; a low-risk birthing centre; end-of-life care; research and teaching; community care; community outreach programs.
During the redevelopment and planning process, Providence will consult with members of the community on how best to meet the primary health care needs of seniors and others in the West End.
When patients come to the new St. Paul’s, there will be a centralized intake process that will determine the care most appropriate for each person—whether that be hospital care, primary, community care or other health care supports. This new integrated intake approach will ensure patients are directed and receive the care they need as quickly as possible.
Vancouver’s West End/Coal Harbour MLA, Spender Chandra Herbert, has been a long-time advocate for keeping St Paul’s in Downtown Vancouver. He voiced his frustration on Twitter this morning:
The West End's been hit with a double whammy. Oil spill closed our beaches, now Premier Clark wants to close our hospital.
— Spencer Chandra Herbert (@SChandraHerbert) April 13, 2015
Providence says the plan builds on St. Paul’s current provincial role in areas such as heart, lung, kidney and HIV/AIDS care by developing new centres of excellence in addictions, mental health, aging and seniors’ care. No timeline was announced with the plan this morning.
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This seems like an awfully big waste of infrastructure. What will they do with the empty buildings on Burrard? Tear them down? That’s one use of public funds. And now residents of the West End will have to go all the way to False Creek. That will be risky when traffic is heavy.