Key Details

• This project is the first full hospital replacement of this size in the North and is a cornerstone of the Province’s commitment to revitalize health care for Northern and rural areas of the province.

   

• This project is an important investment for future generations in Fort St. John and the surrounding communities in the delivery of quality and sustainable health care services.

   

• This project will provide new and expanded patient care services for the Peace River North and will support Northern Health in meeting demand projections for public health care services.

  • This project is an important element of the broader regional network of facilities, which includes Dawson Creek and District Hospital, aimed towards improving health care delivery in the Peace River region.

• Construction of the new facilities is another crucial step forward to improving the local economy through the creation of much-needed construction jobs and the purchase of local supplies and materials. Approximately 1,900 new direct and indirect job hours will be created during the construction period.

   

• The Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care project will provide a new 55-bed acute care hospital and 123-bed residential care facility for Fort St. John and surrounding communities.

   

• The Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care project will bring expanded regional programs and services to a growing community, which is expected to increase 21 per cent by 2028 to approximately 84,000 people.

   

• This is an exciting time for medical education in Northern BC. The new hospital will serve as a “teaching hospital,” providing modern academic space to support the University of Northern BC Northern Medical Program.

   

• The project will be undertaken as a public private partnership (P3). The private partner selected to work with Northern Health to design, build, finance and maintain the facility is ISL Health. All clinical services will continue to be provided by the Province through Northern Health.

   

• The Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care project will be constructed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification as part of government’s commitment to a greener and more sustainable future. The facilities will be energy efficient and incorporate extensive use of wood.

   

• The Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care project is part of the Province’s three-year, $14-billion capital infrastructure program, which includes $2.5 billion for capital spending in the health sector. 

   

• The new residential care facilities provide a tremendous opportunity to repatriate residents to Fort St. John to rejoin family and friends.

  • The seniors’ population in the North is experiencing a high rate of growth—seniors will benefit from the expanded residential care facilities and close proximity to the new hospital.

Motivation to Grow

• The new Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care Project is urgently needed for the people in the Fort St. John and outlying communities.        
• • Fort St. John is a rapidly growing city with an aging population.
  • The current Fort St. John hospital has been stretched to the limit for years and desperately needs to be replaced.
  • The exisiting hospital cannot be expanded or refurbished at its current location. 

   

• The new Fort St. John Hospital will provide area residents with state-of-the-art acute-care facilities and much needed residential care capacity for local seniors.

  • The new hospital will provide new and expanded services not currently available.

  • The new hospital will be a centre for pathology, radiology, clinical support and pharmacy services.

  • The project will support recruitment, retention and engagement of a well-trained, sustainable health care workforce.

  • The new hospital will be linked to Kelowna General Hospital for support in psychiatric consultation, thoracic and plastic surgery.

   

• The new acute-care hospital will provide modern academic space to support the University of Northern BC’s Northern Medical Program. The Northern Medical Program was established in 2004 to address the shortage of doctors practicing medicine in Northern BC communities.

• • The new hospital will become a centre of expertise for training new doctors enrolled in the University of Northern BC's Northern Medical Program.

  • Students and residents that will be placed in Fort St. John working towards their medical degrees or residency will benefit from the onsite location and convenient access to the hospital and residential care facilities.

  • The modern facilities will help further attract and retain these doctors and clinicians.

   

• Fort St. John will benefit from the construction of these facilities through a public private partnership.

• • The new hospital and residential care facility is being procured as a PPP. 

  • PPPs not only achieve value for taxpayer’s dollars, but also deliver a fixed-price contract that transfers key risks, such as construction costs and schedule, to the private partner. 

  • The private sector brings innovation—we attract the most experienced builders in the world and locally—benefiting from their knowledge, experience and new ideas. They bring to the table their best practices in global health care

  • The benefits of PPPs include the transfer of risk. This means that taxpayers are not exposed to unanticipated or additional during construction or the operating phase. Construction and labour cost escalations are also the responsibility of the private sector partner.

  • The private partner, ISL Health, is a team that combines the strength, innovation and experience of BC based construction and architectural firms with national and international companies to deliver state-of-the-art health care facilities.

  • All health care services will continue to be delivered by the public sector:

  • Residents will use their Care Card for medical services, just like any other hospital

  • Both the land and the facility are owned by Northern Health

  • Northern Health will continue to be responsible for all health care delivery

  • The new facility and the public private partnership model follow the principles of the Canada Health Act