A new post-anaesthesia recovery room is in the works for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital after the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation announced its new fundraising campaign Oct. 4.
A crowd of hospital staff, local dignitaries and Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation members gathered in the hospital’s Len Barlow Rose Garden to hear about the foundation’s plan.
“After opening the new operating rooms (earlier this year), all we need is the final piece which is the recovery room,” said Brentwood Lodge General Manager, hospital foundation volunteer and Honourary Campaign Chair, Dan Behune during the ceremony.
“At the moment, we have patients waiting the hallways before and after surgeries so this new room is essential.”
The new technologically-advanced operating rooms officially opened Aug. 23, and Barb Mollberg, clinical nurse leader of surgical services and endoscopy, agrees the new plan for the recovery room would put the final piece of the puzzle in place.
“Everyone is excited about the new operating rooms. The innovations are outstanding, and improve both efficiency and effectiveness. But what will complete the picture is a modernization of the post anesthesia recovery room,” she said.
Mollberg added in a media release that old operating room space can be updated to house a functional and comfortable recovery room that would include a new nursing station, two curtained pre-op spaces, seven spacious post-op spaces, a patient washroom and a new endoscopy suite. There are currently no private pre-op spaces, no patient washrooms and only five small post-op spaces in the old operating wing space.
The foundation is looking to raise $2 million for the project, $1.2 million of which has already been donated. Trevor Deeley’s estate contributed $500,000 to the project.
“Trev saw our hospital as the heart of the community”, said Deeley’s executor, Dale Henley. “He encouraged us to improve and grow it.”
Karen Morgan, the foundation’s executive director hopes with more than half of the money for the project raised already, the campaign will reach its target quickly.
“My goal is to wrap (the campaign up) before Christmas,” she laughed.
This campaign marks the first with the foundation’s new president, Gordon Benn. Former president Lorne Jack hung up his hat earlier this summer.
“This year marks my first campaign as president of the board of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation and I’m energized about it,” said Benn. “We are taking on yet another major project to update and modernize the (hospital).”
Anyone who wishes to contribute to the campaign can mail a cheque payable to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation at 2166 Mount Newton X Rd., Saanichton, B.C., V8M 2B2. Donations can also be accepted by credit card over the phone at 652-7531. All donations to the foundation are eligible for a tax receipt.