It’s quiet in the unit now, but come summer, the new space for the smallest of patients is set to be bustling with activity.
After decades of community advocacy and fundraising, the neonatal intensive care unit at the Ksyen Regional Hospital is ready to open.
All that’s needed now, is one more doctor.
Chris Mallett is the CEO of the DR. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation, whose “Closer to Home” fundraising campaign made the unit possible.
“Currently we are waiting for a fifth pediatrician. So, the hospital, or this Neonatal ICU, has leveled up the hospital to a tier three, a trauma care level that requires five specialist pediatricians as well as eight specialized nurses.
The nurses are being trained as we speak and should be up and running by the end of the summer, and recruitment is underway with Northern Health to find us a fifth pediatrician. And they’ve had some interest, but nothing signed as of yet. So hopefully, fingers crossed that we’re able to open by the end of summer or early fall.”
This unit will transform access to care for families across the North, reducing the need for families to travel to Prince George or Vancouver for urgent care.
Mallett says next steps include options for family care.
“As we have sort of come to the tail end of the construction side of the NICU, we’ll look to raise additional funds for a family support program. It’s in the very early development stage at this point.
But what that will do is allow families from out of town to come in and have support for things like hotel rooms and gas for their travel and that type of thing, so that they can stay with their families here and provide the support that’s greatly needed.”
This undertaking represents over 14 million dollars raised by the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation from a variety of donors, and represents the largest initiative the foundation has undertaken.
Mallett says the support for the “Closer to Home” campaign has been nothing short of heart-warming.
“We have had donors in all shapes and sizes from a local $100 personal donation, to a $50,000 donation by the TELUS Interior & Northern BC Community Board, to a $100,000+ donation from the entire Sikh Community here in Terrace.
Then regional, national and international support such as a $150,000 donation from BMO Bank of Montreal and a $250,000 donation from RBC (Royal Bank) Foundation, to a $500,000 donation from the Prince Rupert Port Authority and finally our Lead Donor that kicked off our Closer to Home campaign with a whopping $2 million dollar donation from Newmont.
Along with many others, too many to list. This tremendous support has helped to ensure that the NICU will be built and put to use by the entire region.”