Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement - Terrace, BC

A significant way Northern Health receives valuable input into the new hospital has been through both the MMH Indigenous Advisory Working Group (IAWG) and MMH Community Advisory Working Group (CAWG). The work of the IAWG and the CAWG informs the project to help ensure a facility that reflects and supports the communities served by Mills Memorial Hospital.

Aspects of the project that may be influenced by these groups include but are not limited to patient experience, culturally appropriate design, artwork, signage, and local considerations of interest that arise as we meet.

Over the last few months, both groups have met several times with members of the MMH Replacement project team to provide feedback on a variety of topics. The most recent meetings took place this past week, at the end of July.

Input to date from both groups has been extremely valuable and we are tremendously grateful for the participation of the members.

Input from the CAWG and IAWG is filtered upwards. It first goes to the MMH Capital Advisory Committee. Then it goes to the MMH Project Steering Committee who, in collaboration with the Project Board, balances the complexities of a capital building project with the needs and wants of the local and regional communities and residents.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes in the construction of a new hospital, but a simplified version of reporting, when it comes to these groups, looks like the graphic on this page.

Terms of reference for both working groups and the MMH Capital Advisory Committee can be found in the documents section of this website. Take a look to find out more info about the groups' purpose and membership:

• Indigenous Advisory Working Group (IAWG) terms of reference
• Community Advisory Working Group (CAWG) terms of reference
• Capital Advisory Committee (CAC) terms of reference

Patients arriving at the new Mills Memorial Hospital by ambulance can expect a more comfortable and private experience as a result of a new, fully-enclosed, drive-through ambulance garage.

The new ambulance garage is on the northeast corner of the main floor of the new hospital, near Keith Avenue.

At the current hospital, ambulances back into the emergency department lot behind the hospital. Patients are then transported out of the back of the ambulance, through the elements, through the main emergency entrance.

With the new garage, which has two bays, patients will be transferred in a fully-enclosed, temperature-regulated space. Once the ambulance pulls into the garage, the doors will shut to protect patients and staff from the outdoors and weather, which can be extreme at different at times in Terrace. Patients will then be transported directly into the emergency department, far away from the main emergency entrance.

The new garage was designed to meet industry standards in consultation with BC Emergency Health Services, which oversees the BC Ambulance Service.

Ambulance parking area, behind the hospital next to the Emergency Department, at the current hospital.

View of ambulance entrance from inside current Mills Memorial Hospital.

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.

The Mills Memorial Hospital project has been voted 'best new development' in the Terrace Standard newspaper's 2022 Readers Choice Awards.

Thank you for your votes Terrace! We are as excited as you about the new hospital.

Staff and physicians at Mills Memorial Hospital were treated to cake on Wednesday, June 22, to celebrate one year of construction of the new hospital. The construction site was also unusually quiet over the lunch hour, as PCL treated workers on site to a catered meal from the popular Terrace food truck Redneck Kitchen, for the anniversary.

One of four cakes celebrating one year of project construction.

Longtime Northern Health employee Patrick Sharyk enjoys a slice.

Administrative Assistant Nicole Demedeiros serves a piece of the action to cafeteria worker Lora Gogag.

Workers on the new Mills Memorial Hospital construction site take a break to enjoy a free catered lunch, courtesy of PCL, celebrating one year of construction .

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.

Check out what the site looked like a year ago today, when construction had not even begun. What a difference!

Here and Now

• The last concrete slab for the new hospital was poured on June 2, 2022; in the construction industry, this exciting milestone is referred to as ‘structural completion’.
• Work has begun on the fourth floor; the new hospital will have five floors in total, including the basement.
• Interior mechanical and electrical work has started in the basement of the new hospital.
• The roof is on the new facilities maintenance garage, a steel structure on the southwest corner of the new facility, behind the current emergency department.
• The storm and sanitary branches, which will manage the new hospital’s storm water and sewage, are complete.
• Roughly 41% of workers currently on site are local (live in Terrace) or regional (commute from surrounding communities to the site).
• More than 80 local businesses have been contracted to date to perform a range of duties.
• Recently released What We Heard booklet, which responds to common feedback and questions about the project.

Going forward

• Construction of the new Seven Sisters is set to begin this summer and will last at least one year; We will also share the final design of the new site once it is complete.
• Terrace’s skyline will go back to normal this fall as the tower cranes will be removed from the site.
• By the end of the year, the exterior building envelope should be complete.
• Majority of site work this winter and going forward will be inside the building.

Project Completion

Overall, the project is is expected to be complete in the summer of 2026. The “substantial completion” date, however, is scheduled for September 2024.

Substantial completion is the point when Northern Health will take possession of the new hospital and continue work towards getting the facility ready for patient use. After that, the current facility will need be decommissioned and demolished, and the landscaping and parking will also need to be completed.

Looking up the mast of the tower crane from it’s base. Placing concrete in concrete form with crane and bucket.

Reinforcing steel and embedded electrical and mechanical components.

Installing open web joists for the facilities maintenance garage.

East side of the new facility.

Large concrete pours will take place on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site from Tuesday, May 30 toThursday, June 2. Workers will be on site past 7 PM and into the night.

Most concrete work on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site is completed throughout the day. However, when large pours take place, it is sometimes necessary to work longer hours to finish the concrete.

We apologize for any noise in advance.