Category #FAQ   Show all

  • FAQ: What will be the name of the new hospital?

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    A photo of the current Mills Memorial Hospital with the new hospital, still under construction, in the background.

    We understand that the name of the new Terrace hospital is of significant interest and importance to many. For this reason, the naming process cannot be rushed and requires careful consideration.

    Some may have noticed that in early February, letters spelling out ‘Mills Memorial Hospital’ were affixed to the exterior of the new facility. This signage, which faces Tetrault Street, was installed as part of the original project schedule.

    We have not yet made any decisions around the naming of the new Mills Memorial Hospital, however. We are still working through the naming process which will include input and engagement with local First Nations, community members, staff and physicians, and community leaders.

    Until the naming process has been unfolded, the letters on the outside of the new hospital will be covered. And until a final decision has been made, the project and Northern Health will continue to refer to the current hospital as ‘Mills Memorial Hospital’ or "the existing hospital" or "current Terrace hospital", and the new hospital as ‘the new Mills Memorial Hospital”, “the new hospital”, and/or “the new Terrace hospital”.

    Stay tuned! We will share more info as it becomes available.


  • FAQ: What does a new hospital in Terrace mean for surrounding communities?

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    When a community gains a new hospital, the entire region benefits.

    Here's what a new hospital in Terrace means for other Northwest BC communities.

    Download the MMH Regional Benefits flyer.

    Stronger regional health care

    Northern Health takes a regional approach to providing health care across Northern BC. The new hospital in Terrace will work in partnership with and complement other facilities in the region. A new Mills Memorial Hospital (MMH) will provide a foundation for services to grow in, and outreach programs to serve, surrounding communities.

    New and expanded services

    The new Terrace hospital will offer specialty care not currently available in the region, benefitting all Northwest BC residents. The new hospital will have an expanded level of neonatal and maternal care. This means some mothers and babies who previously would be transferred to bigger centres will be able to receive care in Terrace, closer to home. Similarly, with an enhanced trauma care program, many trauma patients who would be stabilized then transferred to Vancouver or Prince George will now be cared for at MMH. Terrace is also where Northwest BC psychiatry patients receive care, and the number of psychiatry beds at the new MMH is doubling, increasing from 10 to 20.

    The new hospital will attract new specialists and physicians who will be able to engage with patients at other sites, for example, patients in Dease Lake, Stewart, and Haida Gwaii. The benefits of new staff, services and programs at the new MMH expand beyond Terrace.

    Increased demand at other facilities

    Contrary to concerns of the new MMH taking away from other facilities, the demand for services at other facilities may increase.

    For example, the new MMH will offer orthopedic surgeries to support the enhanced trauma program. The demand for orthopedic surgeries is high enough that with more trauma-centred surgeries happening in Terrace, more elective surgeries will likely need to happen in Kitimat and Prince Rupert, where they are already taking place. Likewise, the need for services supplied to MMH by surrounding facilities may increase. The hospital in Kitimat provides laundry services to MMH, and the demand for this service will increase with a larger facility and more patient beds in Terrace.

    Continued renovations, upgrades, and new builds

    A new hospital in Terrace doesn’t stop renovations and new construction from happening in surrounding communities. Planning new facilities, as well as major and minor renovations and upgrades is an ongoing, comprehensive and regional process. For example, a new primary care clinic opened in Smithers in January 2024, and in recent years, several major pieces of equipment at Wrinch Hospital in the Hazeltons have been upgraded. We are committed to maintaining health care services and facilities throughout the region. New facilities and services, and major and minor renovations and upgrades will continue to be planned and take place throughout Northwest BC.

    Regional recruitment

    While a new hospital can be a significant draw for new employees, Northern Health aims to recruit equitably for all communities, especially those with higher vacancies. Candidates also have personal preferences when it comes to career opportunities and where they want to live in the region.

  • FAQ: Will parking be free?

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    Yes! Parking at the hospital will continue to be free.

    In other good news, parking is doubling, increasing from approximately 150 to 300 spots.

    Adequate parking for patients, visitors and staff is an issue at the current hospital and an important part of the new build.

    A significant number of the parking spots at the new facility will be where the existing hospital now stands. For this reason, parking for the entire project won't be complete until the middle of 2026. It can only be completed after the new hospital is already in operations and the current facility has been removed. Northern Health is working on finding solutions for parking in the interim.

  • FAQ: Why was a Tier 3 level NICU not in the original hospital plans?

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    The Tier 3 NICU and special care nursery are part of the birthing unit on Level 3.Mills Memorial Hospital currently provides maternal/fetal and neonatal services at the Tier 2 level.

    No Tier 3 service site currently exists in Northern Health’s Northwest Service Delivery Area, and patients are often transferred to UHNBC (Tier 4) in Prince George or BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital (Tier 6) in the Lower Mainland.


    Tiers of Service guidelines were revised just recently (January 2020), after the MMH Replacement project business plan was approved and design began (May 2019), which means a Tier 3 level of service was not included in the project’s original business plan, nor current design or budget.

    The demand for perinatal and neonatal services in Northwest BC is expected to meet Tier 3 service level, however.

    For reference, Perinatal BC’s Tiers of Service provide parameters around maternal/fetal care and newborn care services. The designation tier level depends on the services available at a facility.

    More info here: http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/Documents/Resources/SystemPlanning/TiersOfService/TiersofService.pdf

    The primary drivers for the decision to pursue a Tier 3 designation are the nature and number of births, as well as local service considerations.

    Support this important addition!

    The Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation is a volunteer organization that raises funds in support of Mills Memorial Hospital and Terraceview Lodge in Terrace. On June 3, the Foundation announced the 'Closer to Home' campaign, which is aimed at raising money to cover the cost of the Tier 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery at the new Mills Memorial Hospital.

    Donate to the R.E.M Lee Foundation's 'Closer to Home' campaign by calling (250) 641-5526 or online at remleehospitalfoundation.org

    Help support new mothers and babies in Northwest BC who need care 'Closer to Home'.

  • FAQ: How many new staff will you hire?

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    With an increase in services, a significant increase in the number of staff in various positions will be necessary. Plans for staffing the new facility, including recruitment, retention and training plans, have already started but are not yet finalized.

    Staffing plans consider many factors, including how to balance the duties and workloads of different staff in different departments within the new facility. We are currently working on determining the exact staffing levels that will be needed for the new Mills Memorial Hospital and new Seven Sisters facility. However, we already know significant employment opportunities will likely be available in a number of areas.

    • Care Aides

    • Diagnostics Imaging Technologists

    • Dietitians

    • Facility and maintenance Workers

    • Housekeeping, laundry and food services workers

    • Indigenous Patient Liaisons

    • Laboratory Technologists

    • Licensed Practical Nurses

    • Nurse Practitioners

    • Patient Reception and Health Information Professionals

    • Pharmacy Staff

    • Physicians

    • Physio and Occupational Therapists

    • Registered Nurses

    • Respiratory Therapists

    • Social Workers

    Job listings and more info about working for Northern Health can be found at: https://careers.northernhealth.ca



  • FAQ: What spaces will be available for families to visit and gather?

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    The new facility has been designed with all types of patients and visitors in mind, including patients with large extended families, and patients with no family.

    All rooms in the new hospital will be private and allow families to gather comfortably and privately. Each room has its own bathroom and window, as well as visitor seating.

    Several other spaces have also been placed throughout the facility. For example, family rooms, quiet rooms, and the TV lounge. This lets patients have places to go with their visitors other than their room. It also allows patients who may get lonely to have places to go and be around others.

    The spiritual space on the first floor is also available for families to gather. The space has a large gathering room, as well as a small gathering room, a storage area, and a kitchenette. It also has technology in the larger room so that family members can join those in the room virtually.

    Outside, several gardens with seating are also planned throughout the site.

  • FAQ: What detox services will be available at the new hospital?

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    We understand people are looking for support when it comes to problematic substance use in the area, and Terrace does not currently have a dedicated treatment centre. However, this is not part of the MMH replacement project.

    Hospitals mainly focus on acute care, which is care for short-term needs. A treatment centre does not fit into this environment.

    Northern Health, however, and many other organizations including non-profits and community groups, do play a part in supporting those with substance use and mental health issues in Terrace and surrounding communities. Some groups, with Northern Health’s support, are taking steps to set up a local treatment centre.

    At Mills Memorial Hospital, two in-patient treatment beds are prioritized for the medical management of withdrawal from alcohol. Two beds will be prioritized for this in the new hospital too. Patients experiencing withdrawal symptoms or who have overdosed can also access acute care at the Mills Memorial Hospital – now and at the new one.

    If any patients who receive care at the hospital request information and access to harm reduction and treatment programs, staff will provide them with information and support individuals to access services.

    People who are experiencing problematic substance use may also have concurrent mental health disorders. In some circumstances, if a person requires further stabilization and support for the treatment of an acute mental health presentation, following medical stabilization, admission to the acute psychiatry unit in Mills Memorial Hospital may be necessary for further assessment, consultation, and treatment.

    Currently the hospital has 10 acute psychiatric inpatient adult beds that serve Northwest BC. The new hospital will have 20 psychiatric inpatient adult beds.

    The current Seven Sisters facility has 20 beds. The new Seven Sisters will have 25 beds.

    Recovery is a very personal journey and can look different for each person. A variety of supports and services are available in the area to support people experiencing problematic substance use. Northern Health teams focus on supporting people wherever they are at in their wellness journey.

  • FAQ: How big will the new hospital be?

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    The new Mills Memorial Hospital will be more than double the size of the current facility – approximately 356,500 square feet across five floors! Patients and visitors will mainly access floors 1, 2 and 3.

    Here's a breakdown of all five floors:

    • Level 0 (Basement) – Support floor
      • Houses facilities and maintenance department, food services, support services, biomedical engineering, data center, the warehouse, and the morgue

    • Level 1 (Ground/Main floor) – Medical floor
      • Houses main lobby, emergency department, ambulatory care clinic, cancer care, renal care, laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, intensive care unit, and pharmacy.

    • Level 2 – Medical floor
      • Houses surgical services, staff facilities, education hub, administration, health information management services, and psychiatry.

    • Level 3 – Medical/Surgical floor
      • Houses two medical/surgical units, rehabilitation, allied health, and maternity and labour delivery.

    • Level 4 – Support floor
      • Houses mechanical systems, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and other systems.

    The number of beds at the hospital are also increasing from 44 to 78, while Treatment spaces in the emergency department are increasing from 10 to 20, and beds in the new Seven Sisters facility are increasing from 20 to 25.

    Check out the layout for the first four floors. (Level 5 mainly houses mechanical equipment therefore a layout is not provided.)