A renovation project in the emergency department at Royal Jubilee Hospital has resulted in a more functional design officials expect will help speed up patient care.
Head of emergency and trauma care with Island Health Dr. Chris Morrow says Royal Jubilee's emergency wing sees over 60-thousand patients a year but was designed only to accommodate 40-thousand.
He says, as a result, the department had become too cramped and less functional, so they repurposed some storage area, moved some walls, and eliminated a hallway.
"The redesign has greatly expanded our ability to see the ever-increasing number of patients. We have a much better waiting area; we have increased our number of care areas; and we've also increased our number of work spaces for the health care professionals that need to do this important care."
The $220-thousand dollar renovation project was funded by Island Health and by a donation made through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation by Victoria residents Peter and Sandra Powell.