Key Takeaways
- British Columbia will provide $210 million to improve and expand Burnaby Hospital's emergency department and surgical unit.
- The expanded emergency department will include 16 additional treatment spaces, while the surgical department will have 10 standardized operating rooms.
- Further plans include expanded cancer care and additional acute-care capacity as the hospital redevelopment progresses.
Burnaby Hospital Redevelopment Moves Forward With Emergency Care Expansion
The British Columbia government is moving forward with a renewed plan to redevelop Burnaby Hospital, with immediate improvements planned for emergency and surgical care.
The Province announced on September 21, 2026, that it will provide $210 million for an expanded emergency department and surgical unit at the hospital. Further improvements to cancer care and acute-care capacity are also planned.
Emergency Department to Receive Additional Treatment Spaces
The renewed redevelopment plan includes an expanded emergency department in the hospital's support facilities building.
The expanded department will include 16 additional treatment spaces, along with a combined waiting and patient check-in area. Plans also include a new decontamination zone and ambulance entry.
Additional support areas will provide separate pathways for patients and staff, while mechanical, electrical and information technology systems will also be upgraded.
Surgical Services to Be Expanded
The surgical department will also receive upgrades as part of the next phase of the redevelopment.
Four operating rooms will be upgraded and combined with the six new operating rooms that opened earlier in 2026. This will provide a total of 10 standardized operating rooms.
The surgical improvements will also include an integrated sterile core, four minor procedure rooms and 42 renovated perioperative preparation and recovery bays.
$210 Million Investment Announced
The Province is providing $210 million for the emergency and surgical improvements.
The renewed plan follows detailed design work that found the broader redevelopment project was significantly over budget. As part of efforts to address cost pressures, the project board commissioned an independent report that provided 25 recommendations on delivering the project within budget and scope.
The improvements to emergency and surgical services will begin immediately. Initial procurement is expected to be completed in early 2027, followed by detailed design and construction.
Further Cancer and Acute-Care Services Planned
The Province is also advancing plans to expand cancer care and increase patient-care capacity through a new acute-care tower.
These planned improvements are intended to build on the hospital's redevelopment and increase its ability to provide health-care services to people in Burnaby and surrounding communities.
Phase 1 Already Expanded Hospital Capacity
The latest work builds on Phase 1 of the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment, which opened in early 2026.
Phase 1 included a new six-storey health-care pavilion with 83 beds. The facility includes maternity, neonatal intensive care, mental-health and medical units.
The hospital's support facilities building was also expanded, including new emergency department areas and six operating rooms.
Burnaby Hospital Redevelopment Continues
The renewed plan is part of a broader effort to modernize Burnaby Hospital and expand health-care capacity in the community.
According to Fraser Health, the redevelopment is intended to transform the hospital into a modern medical and surgical health-care campus. The project includes expanded emergency services, additional operating and procedure rooms, cancer-care expansion and additional acute-care capacity.
The Province says the latest improvements will move forward while planning continues for additional cancer and acute-care services.