WHITE ROCK, B.C. – A new, dedicated mental health and substance use treatment area within the expanded Peace Arch Hospital Emergency Department is now open, supporting people presenting to hospital with a quiet and calming environment to receive care. The area, known as Zone 5, is part of completed expansion work at Peace Arch Hospital that is improving access to emergency and surgical services for people in the South Surrey-White Rock community.

The provincial government through Fraser Health provided $52.55 million and the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation provided $38.5 million with the support of generous donors, for a total project cost of $91.05 million.

“The redevelopment of Peace Arch Hospital’s emergency and surgical departments is a critical and exhilarating moment for our community, made possible through the incredible generosity of our donors,” says Stephanie Beck, Executive Director at Peace Arch Hospital Foundation. “Many have given repeatedly to turn this dream into a reality. The spirit of philanthropy and care that initially built this hospital in 1954 continues to thrive in our community today.”

The Honourable Minister Adrian Dix stopped by Peace Arch Hospital on February 3, 2024 to celebrate the official opening of Zone 5.

Following completion in January 2022, the expanded Emergency Department supported 58,207 patients between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, up 10.3 per cent from the same period in the previous year. The expanded Emergency Department features 50 new single-patient treatment spaces, effectively doubling its capacity and includes a paediatric-friendly space.

A new surgical suite above the Emergency Department opened in January 2022. The surgical suite features an additional two operating rooms, increasing the total to five from three, as well as a cataract surgery suite. Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, Fraser Health was able to complete 33 per cent more surgeries at Peace Arch Hospital than in the same period in the previous year.

Additionally, the Medical Device Reprocessing Department has been relocated closer to the surgical suite, enhancing access, infection control measures, and safety for staff and medical staff.Redeveloping these areas has improved overall efficiency by providing direct links between Emergency, surgery, and the sterilization of surgical tools.

“The foundation wishes to extend special gratitude to the White Rock Fire Fighters and Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society for their support of our Emergency Department’s new Mental Health and Substance Use Zone,” Stephanie Beck says. “With the ever-increasing importance of improving mental health care for their members and our community in mind, they contributed $500,000 toward this new space. We are so very grateful for their support.”