The much-anticipated news on the VGH OR Renewal Project was announced this week. We’re expanding. In fact, VGH is about to undertake one of the most complex hospital expansions in BC.

It’s the news many have been waiting for.

“Improvements to our operating rooms will continue to position us as world leaders in clinical teaching and research,” says Dr. Bas Masri, Vancouver’s Surgeon-in-Chief.

“VGH is the medical centre in BC for referrals and complex surgical cases,” says Dr. Bas Masri, Vancouver’s Surgeon-in-Chief. “A larger, leading-edge perioperative suite at VGH is of foremost importance to the health of all British Columbians.”

Providing patients more timely access to safe, high-quality surgical care, the expansion will benefit our physicians and staff in many ways too. The VGH OR Renewal Project will ensure our world-class talent has the work environment, equipment and technology to optimize care and remain at the forefront of their professions.

“Improvements to our operating rooms will continue to position us as world leaders in clinical teaching and research,” says Dr. Masri.

The future of surgery

The new, larger ORs will use a standardized layout to support any case in any room.

The $102.4-million project jointly funded by VCH, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and the BC government will expand the VGH OR suite to the third floor of Jim Pattison Pavilion (JPP) North, directly above the current OR suite. This phase of work will include:

• 16 state-of-the-art and universally sized ORs
• a 40-bed consolidated pre- and post-operative unit
• 1 new elevator serving JPP 2 and 3 North to optimize patient flow
• new equipment and technology, including communication systems to manage activities across two floors of ORs
• upgraded infrastructure, including HVAC, electrical and plumbing
• storage, administrative spaces and staff lounge and lockers

Expansion will provide VGH 16 ORs in addition to the 21 rooms currently in use on the second floor of JPP North. Planning for renovations of our current OR suite on JPP 2 North will continue while expansion work is underway.

Building our legacy together

The VGH expansion will benefit up-and-coming OR nurses for years to come (l to r): Wins Hui, Teja Gill and Sarena Narsing.

This week’s announcement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated support of numerous VCH physicians, staff and health care partners representing a broad spectrum of expertise and departments. Members of the Community Engagement Advisory Network (CEAN) ensured patient and family perspectives enriched our plans too.

“There’s a great deal of work still ahead,” says Andrea Bisaillon, Operations Director, Surgical Services. “We’re wasting no time to begin the detailed design and this offers an exciting opportunity for OR nurses to shape their future workplace and leave a legacy for future generations.”

Shelly Fleck agrees. “This is a wonderful opportunity for all perioperative staff,” says the Operations Director of OR Slating & Booking. “This will be their work environment and when they walk into the finished space for the first time, my hope is that they’ll recognize their contributions in the design and they’ll be proud of the results.”

As part of a broader strategy to improve patient access to timely surgery at VGH and UBC Hospital, the VGH OR expansion will support an increase of more than 2,200 surgeries per year. Our goal is to open the new ORs in early 2021.

 Learn more

• $102 million for 16 new operating rooms and other surgical upgrades at VGH
• VGH OR Renewal Project website (internal link on VCH Connect)
• VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation