New PGRH Maternity and Neonatal Unit Officially Opened

By 250 News

New equipment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opened today at Prince George Regional Hospital

Deputy Premier and Prince George Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond, Prince George North MLA Pat Bell, Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District chair Don Zurowski, health professionals and guests gathered at Prince George Regional Hospital today to officially open the new PGRH Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The opening of the new units, which were built to replace the current overcrowded and dated facilities at PGRH, marked the completion of the $13.8 million Maternal-Child Centre of Excellence. Originally budgeted for $12.5 million, the Ministry of Health approved an addition $1.3 million in February to address escalating construction costs and other unforseen expenses. $ 7 million in funding was provided through the Government of British Columbia, $4.8 from local tax dollar, and $2 million through donations from individuals and local businesses.

The new Maternity Unit, the first of its kind in BC, will allow mothers to labour, give birth and recover in one of 14 private rooms, rather than being moved throughout the hospital. The Maternity Unit is 45 per cent larger than previous facilities, and is located in PGRH’s west wing, next to the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The NICU has 12 private rooms, and is nearly three times as large as the old Special Care Nursery, allowing staff to provide proper care for newborns while still allowing families to be involved.

"We are expanding and modernizing PGRH to meet the growing health care needs of northern families - including our youngest residents," said Bond. "The Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Units will provide the highest standard of care available to mothers and newborns."

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