There’s good news in healthcare for Surrey and Fraser Valley residents.

Surrey, the second-largest city in British Columbia, is anticipated to overtake Vancouver the province’s most populous city by 2041. However, Surrey currently only has one acute-care hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, which completed a $512-million upgrade in 2014.

Following up on a promise, B.C. premier John Horgan announced on December 9 that a new hospital will be built in Cloverdale beside Kwantlen Polytechnic University at 5500 180^th Street.

The hospital will have an emergency department, operating rooms, a laboratory, diagnostic services, inpatient beds, and outpatient services.

The business phase of the project will commence to specify final details, including budget for the new facility and the project scope. When the business plan is approved, the project will advance to procurement, followed by construction.

The hospital is part of improvements to health services in Surrey, including a new urgent and primary care centre, a new mental-health and substance-use urgent care response centre (launched in July), and a second MRI machine at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre.

This second Surrey hospital is among 13 major health projects in the province to replace outdated facilities, including the redevelopment of the Burnaby Hospital (announced in September) and the relocation of St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, there’s more good news from Surrey when it comes to children's health.

The Surrey Hospital Foundation will hold a celebratory event tomorrow (December 11) to recognize a $1 million donation to the Children’s Health Centre Campaign.

The Children’s Health Centre at Surrey Memorial Hospital, which was built in 2001, is the sole health facility in the Fraser Valley dedicated to children’s health and pediatric emergencies.

The foundation has been conducting a fundraising campaign to raise $6 million to renovate and expand the Children’s Health Centre.

Changes will include more outpatient clinics; space for pre- and post-surgery child patients, including more patient rooms for overnight stays; new gastroenterology and orthopedic clinics; expansion of services in 11 specialties, including neurology, cardiology, and nephrology (kidney care); a new treatment room; more surgical daycare spaces; and a new family-friendly waiting area, kids play area, family lounge, and kitchen.

The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Children’s Health Centre at Surrey Memorial Hospital (13750 96^th Avenue).

The campaign has raised $5 million (including the previously mentioned donation) thus far and has a remaining $1 million left to raise.