New kidney care unit announced at Surrey Memorial Hospital

The exterior of Surrey Memorial Hospital is pictured in this undated file photo.

A new renal hemodialysis unit will be built at Surrey Memorial Hospital, officials announced Tuesday.

The stand-alone unit will have 21 dialysis stations, bringing the total at the hospital to 60, according to the province.

Construction is expected to begin August with a planned opening date sometime in 2025.

“The new unit is particularly important, as we know that renal issues are one of the leading health issues in Surrey. Already patients sometimes need to travel to other communities to get renal services,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix at a news conference.

The province says the unit, which will be built on the northwestern corner of the hospital’s campus, is part of its 30-step action plan announced last June to improve services at the struggling hospital. One of the promises made was to expand renal services within 18 months.

“Surrey is an amazing place, and it is growing really quickly. Surrey and the entire south of the Fraser area deserves equal access to health care that people enjoy on the other side of the Fraser,” Premier David Eby said. “This is good news for people facing the hardship of kidney disease that need the support regularly. It means less waiting time. It means more opportunities for treatment.”

The new unit has an estimated price tag of $85 million, with $84 million coming from the province and $1 million from the Surrey Hospitals Foundation.