Clinical services building officially underway

NEWS/ HEALTH — Construction of the new Royal Inland Hospital clinical services building officially began today.

The building will feature an expanded and enhanced space for medical outpatient services, such as IV therapy, as well as the vascular improvement program, lab, community respiratory therapy, pre-surgical screening, cardiology and neurodiagnostics.

It will also include clinical education program space, the UBC medical school, and improved site access with additional parkade stalls and a pedestrian bridge link connecting the new building to the main hospital.

Health Minister Terry Lake, Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone, Interior Health representatives, staff and health-care partners gathered to mark the official start of construction.

The building is the first phase in the hospital’s master development plan. Bird Construction was awarded the design-build contract in March.

It will take about two years to complete the $79.8-million project.