Take Back BC - We WILL build Surrey Memorial

Sunday in Surrey - Carole's Surrey Team meet at Surrey Memorial

Surrey - Gordon Campbell's broken promises and privatization agenda have resulted in a decade of delay for Surrey patients and continued overcrowding at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

"There is no better example of Gordon Campbell's neglect of the people of Surrey than his failure to deliver on Surrey Memorial Hospital," said Ralston who attended the event with BC NDP leader Carole James and other Surrey candidates.

"His broken promises and privatization agenda have resulted in a decade of delay for Surrey patients."

In 2004, the Fraser Health Authority told Gordon Campbell that Surrey Memorial was in crisis. Campbell ignored the crisis until the 2005 election, when he promised to build a new emergency room by 2010.

Four years later, construction still hasn't started and Campbell has made another promise for 2014.

"Gordon Campbell's project relies on a P3 plan that will cause even more delays. The Surrey outpatient facility, one of Campbell's privatization projects, is already two years behind schedule and 90 per cent over budget," said BCNDP leader Carole James.

"The NDP will end Campbell's broken promises and fast track the Critical Care Tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital. We've committed to invest public dollars into this project up front, which will get construction going sooner and new projects into operation faster," said James.

Ralston added that public financing of the Critical Care Tower will allow the project to be completed up to one year earlier than Campbell's plan.

BACKGROUNDER

SURREY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: A DECADE OF DELAY

Originally built to serve a maximum of 44,000 people a year, Surrey Memorial Hospital sees more than 70,000 patients a year.

The Fraser region has a major acute care bed shortfall, estimated to be more than 550 beds and growing to at least 750 beds by 2010.

In 2004, a leaked report from the Fraser Health authority called the emergency room situation at Surrey Memorial a "crisis."

Despite urgent need, the Campbell government pushed back completion of the new ER to 2014 - a full 10 years after Fraser Health first identified the emergency room crisis.

The Surrey outpatient facility, two years behind schedule and $113 million over budget, does not address acute care or emergency services.

Timeline of broken promises

May 10, 2005: Gordon Campbell promises construction of a new facility for acute care at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

"I guarantee all Surrey residents that they will see significant and sweeping improvements to their acute care access...the shovels will be in the ground by 2008." (BC Liberal Party news release, May 10, 2005).

June 22, 2006: Campbell announces a new tower with a new ER and acute care beds.

"Construction is planned to begin in 2008 with the project complete by 2010." (Government of BC news release, June 22, 2006)

2008: Campbell's deadline to start construction of the tower and emergency room passes with no action.

February 6, 2009: Campbell re-announces the critical care tower. But the deadline on the project is now 2014 - nine years after Campbell promised a new facility.

"Construction on the new tower is expected to begin in 2010 ... Dependent upon the procurement process, the new emergency department is planned to open to patients in spring 2013, with final construction of the tower complete in spring 2014." (Government of BC news release, February 6, 2009)