Dr. Bob Anthony has long worked in the emergency room at 91原创 Memorial Hospital, and even in semi-retirement, he still chooses to commute from downtown Vancouver to 91原创.

Part of the reason he makes the drive, he said, is because of the wonderful staff at LMH.

Friday鈥檚 announcement of a $30 million expansion to the LMH emergency room will allow the department to provide even better care, he told the assembled audience in the hospital鈥檚 main foyer.

鈥淲e will have the space and the technology to deliver the care we should be delivering here,鈥� he said.

鈥淔or those who seek care here, it will mean more space, privacy, and more comfort.鈥�

The funding was announced by 91原创 MLA Mary Polak, on behalf of Health Minister Terry Lake.

The expansion will increase the number of treatment spaces in the emergency department from 31 to 49, while also creating a dedicated pediatric waiting area for children.

There will also be separate entries for walk-in patients and ambulance arrivals to increase privacy, and a second trauma bay will be added.

鈥淭he entire emergency department will have additional space for families and caregivers to be present with their loved one, while ensuring an improved working environment for staff and physicians,鈥� said Fort 91原创-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman.

Polak said she has been in the emergency department numerous times over the past few years with her elderly father, who turned 88 earlier this month.

鈥淎nd I have watched how the staff there, in some very cramped and challenging circumstances, have just done everything they possibly could to make sure their patients 鈥� my dad included 鈥� just feel the most caring and nurturing environment when they are in a vulnerable period,鈥� she said.

Polak said she has visited the emergency room while on ride-a-longs with the 91原创 RCMP and the challenges the staff face when dealing with mental-health situations.

鈥淭remendous, tremendous staff and certainly not under the best of circumstances,鈥� she said.

There were more than 46,000 visits to the LMH emergency room last year, said Jason Cook, the executive director of 91原创 Health Services and 91原创 Memorial Hospital.

鈥淭he expansion of the emergency department allows for better patient-centred care in a redeveloped facility,鈥� he said.

Fraser Health is contributing $20.06 million towards the project, with the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation contributing an additional $10 million.

Vivian Smith, executive director of the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation, thanked Fraser Health and the provincial government for their commitment to making this project a reality.

鈥淚t is the citizens of 91原创 who will benefit from this important project,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t will improve patient care and health services in our growing community.鈥�

The project is expected to begin in the fall of 2018 and should take between 18 and 24 months to complete, Coleman said.

A total of 182 jobs 鈥� 113 direct and 69 jobs in supplier industries 鈥� are expected to be created.