Premier Opens Renovated Northern Pediatric Ward

January 11, 2007

Prince George – Premier Gordon Campbell joined local government leaders, community donors and health-care professionals today to officially open the new pediatric ward at Prince George Regional Hospital. The new unit will provide improved family-centered care to seriously ill children in the community and region.

“This state-of-the-art facility will offer sick kids and their families safe, high-quality care during what can be a difficult and emotional time in their lives,” said Campbell. “The renovation to the pediatric ward in Prince George is a first-class example of our government’s commitment to improve, modernize and upgrade patient care for British Columbians.”

The pediatric unit is part of the new PGRH Maternal-Child Centre of Excellence, a $12.5-million initiative to redevelop and expand health facilities for women, newborns and children. The pediatric unit accounts for approximately $5 million of the centre’s entire cost.

  • At 1,800 square meters, the new renovated pediatric unit is double the size of the old unit and provides a number of improvements, including:
  • An eight-bed private room ward and four-bed pediatric intensive care unit meeting the latest in care standards, including greater privacy for children and parents;
  • A dedicated palliative care room;
  • Significantly expanded pediatric ambulatory care facilities with larger and more child-friendly outpatient procedure rooms; and Dedicated isolation rooms for infectious patients.

Several agencies contributed funding for the Maternal-Child Centre of Excellence, including:

  • Northern Health: $5.7 million through funding from government of British Columbia;
  • Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District: $4.8 million from local tax dollars; and
  • Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation: $2 million through donations from individuals and businesses in the Prince George area.

“Our organization is pleased to invest $4.8 million to help fund improved facilities to meet the needs of northern B.C. children and support the efforts of local health-care professionals,” said Don Zurowski, chair of the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District Board.

“The support and dedication of donors throughout the Northern Health region have helped to build a wonderful care environment for children across northern British Columbia,” said Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation president Del Laverdure.

The pediatric expansion will be the latest in several recent improvements at PGRH, including the new Patient Care Addition, and new emergency and intensive care units, as well as expanded renal and ambulatory care facilities. The completion of updated maternity and neonatal care facilities for the Maternal-Child Centre of Excellence will take place this spring.

“This new unit is a vast improvement over the old pediatric unit, and will serve our patients and care providers well for years to come. We look forward to the final phases of the project being completed within the near future,” said Northern Health board member Alice Downing.

British Columbia’s health system will benefit from more investments like this over the next three years as part of government’s $2.3-billion health sector capital plan.

“Renewing our public health-care system is a key part of our Pacific Leadership Agenda and these upgrades will improve access and services for patients in the North,” said Campbell, adding that the Conversation on Health will be in Prince George on March 17 for one of 16 public forums to be held across the province.

Those selected to participate are encouraged to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to share their ideas on how to improve the health care system.

People interested in attending the forum in Prince George need to register by Feb. 2, either by calling toll-free at 1-866-884-2055, or visiting www.BCConversationonHealth.ca online.

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