Vancouver Coastal Health is looking to keep pace with the aging population, pledging to increase capacity, possibly through a new acute patient tower, at Lions Gate Hospital over the next decade.
Short-term plans include enhancements to surgical and outpatient programs at the hospital, Andre Kroeger, director of strategic planning for VCH, told North Vancouver city council Monday. "In the next coming years you are going to see further advancements within what we call our most critical areas," said Kroeger.
LGH is entering "quite a different realm," added Kroeger, explaining how the hospital is transitioning into a health-care and education hub not only for North Shore residents, but also the entire coastal community up to Bella Bella.
But there are some growing pains that Lions Gate and VCH are contending with. "So this
is all part of a two-way sort of struggle. One, in that we have a number of facilities that are challenged with aging infrastructure," said Kroeger.
Cascading waterfalls on the exterior of the buildings, along with a host of other operational problems including electrical issues and elevator outages have become commonplace at the hospital, according to VCH. The campus's cramped facilities also do not allow for technology upgrades.
Looking towards the future, the plan is for Lions Gate to accommodate a population density increase projected for the city in the official community plan to be approved later this year.
Coun. Rod Clark questioned VCH on how it plans to address a need for more hospital beds on the North Shore. Leanne Appleton, LGH's acute care services director, who was also on hand Monday, said more beds, including privates ones, will be needed.
"But also a shift from acute to community," added Appleton. "More and more we will be wrapping our arms around patients and putting more emphasis on services in their own home, and trying to keep them in their home as long as possible before accessing acute services."
At the meeting, Clark encouraged VCH to continue talks with Lonsdale Energy Corp. about providing heat to the hospital, before broaching the perennial parking problem on the streets around Lions Gate. "The parking situation at Lions Gate with respect to employees impacts a very great area ... so anything you can do to keep your own employees within the campus during the day would be welcome," said Clark.
Coun. Don Bell asked about the advantages of being a hub hospital. Kroeger said Lions Gate would be able to retain doctors, specialists and qualified nursing staff in the community.
Coun. Pam Bookham queried if there were plans to replace any of the 60-yearold buildings.
Kroeger revealed there are ongoing capital planning discussions within VCH, with respect to Lions Gate.
"As you can appreciate, there is a provincial process to prioritize those investments because there are hospitals all over the province competing for those sort of large multimillion dollar investments," he said.
As for the possible redevelopment of Evergreen House - a long-term care facility adjacent to the hospital - Kroeger said it is an area being reviewed.
"It's still very formative.
In fact, Vancouver Coastal Health is just in the process of putting out a request for qualifications and expression of interest on residential care renewal across the North Shore," explained Kroeger.
Bookham concluded council's LGH discussion by asking: "So is it fair to say that for the next decade you will be renovating the existing building, but not undertaking any major new construction?
"We certainly hope there will be major construction during the next decade," responded Kroeger, using the example of a new acute patient tower, subject to provincial approval.
Lions Gate recently received significant upgrades, including a new endoscopy clinic. The $62-million HOpe Centre for Mental Health and Addictions is set to open this fall.
