Provincial and local authorities this week announced that funding is in place for a total of $1.8 million worth of capital upgrades at health-care facilities in the Sea to Sky Corridor, including $1.2 million for a long-anticipated upgrade to the Squamish General Hospital (SGH) pharmacy.
Joan McIntyre, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, Paul Lalli, chair of the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District (SSRHD), and representatives of local health-care foundations and service clubs announced the funding during a brief ceremony on Tuesday (Nov. 8) in the hospital's cafeteria.
In addition to the $1.2 million for necessary upgrades to the SGH pharmacy, $600,000 is to go toward upgrades to laboratory facilities at the Pemberton Health Centre.
The SSRHD, which covers the region that includes Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, is contributing 40 per cent of the cost of the two projects. The Squamish Rotary Club is also chipping in $197,000 raised during a gala fundraiser in April at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
Health-care foundations from the three corridor communities contributed smaller amounts, while Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) picked up the balance - part of $29.4 million announced by VCH officials across the region this year, officials said in a statement.
The SGH project will see the hospital add a new room with proper ventilation and a "mixing hood" in which pharmacy staff will be able to mix the chemical "cocktails" used in the treatment of cancer patients. The new room is to meet WorkSafe B.C. standards, improving safety for both patients and hospital staff, officials said.
For the past few months, the mixing of drug cocktails for cancer patients has been taking place at the nearby Hilltop House seniors' residence. When the SGH addition is complete, the relocation of the mixing facility will open up additional beds at Hilltop, officials said.
The project was made possible in part through co-operation among the three corridor health-care foundations, who over the past few years have come together to identify priority projects and share resources, said Dr. John Maynard, a senior VCH medical director who MCed Tuesday's event.
As well, said Lalli, "It wouldn't be happening without the hard work of the Squamish Rotary Club, who took this on even before we had a commitment of the provincial government."
