New hospital in Terrace is state-of-the-art

TERRACE, BC – November 24th marked the opening of a new state-of-the-art Ksyen Regional Hospital, serving Terrace and the surrounding areas. Ksyen Regional Hospital replaces the former Mills Memorial Hospital, which was opened in 1961 and served the community for more than 60 years. Ksyen is the Sm’algya̱x name for the Skeena River.

“The opening of Ksyen Regional Hospital marks a significant milestone in a long journey for our team, our partners and all those living in the northwest. The new Ksyen Regional Hospital will set a standard of excellence for care in the northwest and will be a significant benefit for all those who call the region home. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our partners, the project team, our staff, and our medical staff for going above and beyond these last years to bring us to this day,” said Colleen Nyce (pictured), board chair of Northern Health.

The new hospital, which opened ahead of schedule, is more than twice the size of the previous facility and has 82 beds, private rooms, a bigger emergency department space, including two trauma bays, six stretcher bays, pediatric care space and four operating rooms, as well as the latest diagnostic imaging equipment. Initially, construction was anticipated to be complete in 2025.

Work is underway to have the new hospital serve as a Level 3 trauma centre, upgraded from its current designation as Level 4, to support communities in northwestern B.C. by providing immediate assessment, resuscitation, surgery and intensive care. This new certification will allow more patients to be cared for locally without needing to be transported to another facility.

The new hospital will also include a Tier 3 neonatal intensive care unit and special care nursery, which will provide community-based antenatal and postnatal services, education and parenting support to pregnant individuals, especially those at a higher risk of pregnancy complications compared to Tier 1 and 2 services.

The project cost of $633 million is being shared between the provincial government, through Northern Health, and the North West Regional Hospital District, which is contributing $120.2 million.

“Ksyen Regional Hospital is a game-changer for the Skeena region. Northwest residents are now able to access medical care close to home, ensuring patients are able to heal at home, among their loved ones and social supports. Toyaxsut nüüsm, thank you, to everyone who had a part in making this much-needed resource a reality,” added Sean Bujtas, mayor of Terrace.