PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – Prince Rupert Regional Hospital’s emergency department is now open with a significant upgrade, a $16.5-million modernization that Northern Health says will improve patient care and help attract and retain health-care professionals in the region.
The province announced on September 19 that the bigger and better emergency department is now officially in service. The upgrades are designed to enhance the experience for the roughly 16,000 patients who visit the department each year, averaging 43 visits per day.
The improvements include:
- A new main lobby and registration area to improve patient flow.
- A larger triage and trauma area for better patient assessment and treatment.
- Improved high acuity rooms that provide enhanced privacy and infection prevention control measures.
Colleen Nyce, Northern Health board chair, said the new space is a welcome addition for the community. “This new space will help to ensure that those living in Prince Rupert have access to high-quality care in a new, state-of-the-art department,” she said.
Tamara Davidson, MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii, noted that the investment will make a real difference in the lives of people throughout the community. “Emergency care is essential for families in our region, providing life-saving treatment when it’s needed most, close to home,” she said.
Funding for the upgrade was a joint effort, with $9.9 million coming from the Province and $6.6 million from the Northwest Regional Hospital District. Northern Health also worked with the Tsimshian First Nation throughout the project to ensure the newly renewed emergency department is welcoming and culturally safe.
