Editor: Re: Master plan developed for Langley Memorial Hospital (The Times Oct. 16)
I was dismayed when I read Monique Tamminga’s story on Fraser Health’s plans for Langley Memorial Hospital.
The story states that Langley’s hospital has not seen a major expansion since its opening in 1965. It goes on to say, “The only addition to the structure took place recently with a second-storey added to the hospital’s maternity ward.”
This statement is not correct. There have, in fact, been three major expansions to the 1965 building (South Tower) in the last 40 years.
In 1975 a new wing doubled the size of the laboratory, and created new emergency and radiology departments as well as adding office space, new medical records and physiotherapy departments.
• Another wing, opened in 1988 added forty beds, and provided a service base designed to eventually handle 500 beds. Two levels of that addition house such departments as admitting, a laboratory, spacious medical imaging, a five theatre surgical suite, surgical daycare and a critical care unit.
• A $10 million expansion in 1996 added a third floor to the 1988 wing for a new obstetrical ward. A large cafeteria and more spacious quarters for the information systems department as well as biomedical and engineering services, were added at that time.
This information can be found in the book, The Hospital on the Hill, a history of Langley Memorial Hospital 1948-1998, in Chapter 10 (Growing & Growing/ the Hospital Expansion Programs).
Doris Riedweg,
LMH Heritage Committee