The head of the Langley Community Health and Hospital Foundation (LCHHF) noted how the number of beds per person has steadily declined over the past half century during an update to the Township council on Monday.
Heather Scott, executive director of the LCHHF, showed the progression as Langley's population grew rapidly during the past few decades.
In 1965, Langley had 9.2 hospital beds per 1,000 residents, Scott said in her presentation.
By 1996, that had dropped to 1.94 beds per 1,000 people
As of 2024, that number has declined to 1.2 beds per 1,000.
If there isn't more health-care investment by 2040, when the population of Langley is expected to reach 240,000 people, that number would be less than one bed.
"The Canadian average, which is considered low among developed countries, is 2.5 beds per 1,000," said Scott. She also noted that the average in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is three beds per 1,000.
The new Cloverdale hospital, now under construction, won't help much because Surrey is seeing its own rapid growth, said Scott.
Scott also updated the council on the LCHHF's accomplishments and changes in the past year, including contributing $1.2 million to the Langley Memorial Hospital.
The society also opening the Aspire building, the 55+ apartment complex across the street from Langley hospital, which is run on a not-for-profit basis with revenues going towards Langley's health care.
Scott also talked about how the organization re-branded from the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation to its new name, to reflect that they are concerned about health in other areas, including in partnerships with Fraser Health, Meals on Wheels, and Foundry.
