RCH History
Next year the Royal Columbian Hospital, RCH as we affectionately call it, will have been in New Westminster 150 years! There is a lot of tradition!
In a recent article, Adrienne Bakker wrote “In spite of the expertise and resourcefulness of RCH doctors, nurses and administrators, the service demands on this facility have exceeded capacity for years.
Many people do not realize that RCH is not just New Westminster’s hospital—85 per cent of the patients cared for at RCH come from outside of New Westminster. In fact, patients are referred to RCH from every community east of Boundary Road and out through the Fraser Valley and to the U.S. Border.” Read full article…
Fraser Health delivered a concept plan to the Ministry of Health Services that would see a significant expansion and redevelopment of RCH.
RCH is important to New Westminster, and the region, not only because of the health services it provides, but it is also one of our big economic drivers. As an institution it employs nearly 4000 people, many who live in New Westminster. It also encourages many satellite medical practices and health service businesses.
Upgrading and expanding an operational hospital is both complex and expensive. I intend to use all my resources and networks in the coming term to facilitate this much needed project. I have meetings scheduled with RCH and Fraser Health Authority to explore how we continue to moving this forward as soon as possible.
