The disaster in Hope last November highlighted the need for all sorts of items in the community, and one of them was a transport ventilator at Fraser Canyon Hospital.
The equipment assists in safely stabilizing patients during disaster, such as the flooding and mudslides that were experienced here and stranded more than 1,000 people in the area. Some of those people were critically injured.
Now, the hospital has a brand new, state-of-the-art Hamilton T-1 Transport Ventilator, thanks to the Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Woodward’s Foundation and the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation.
“Fraser Canyon Hospital staff and physicians are very grateful for this generous donation from the Woodward’s family,” said Petra Pardy, executive director for Chilliwack, Hope and Agassiz Health Service. “The new transport ventilator will have a significant impact on our patient care and support patients during transports from FCH to other tertiary hospital locations in the region.”
Fraser Canyon Hospital is the only medical acute care centre in Hope and the surrounding areas including the Fraser Canyon, Sunshine Valley, and Manning Park. Transports from the hospital to Chilliwack, Abbotsford or even Royal Columbian Hospital for higher level of care needs are a normal and frequent occurrence that require reliable and most updated equipment, Pardy added.
“In the most recent severe weather events, many non-Hope residents found themselves stranded or evacuated into Hope and surrounding areas, relying on health services and utilizing the acute care system when needed,” she said. “This highlighted the situation for need of more equipment and vulnerability of aging equipment onsite even more so.”
The Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation managed the donation, as they do with many donations to the hospitals in Chilliwack, Hope, Mission and Abbotsford.
“We are very appreciative of the ongoing support we receive from community members, organizations and the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation to help us with much needed equipment needs and resources to keep our patients and clients in the community safe and well looked after.”
For more information on the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation visit fvhcf.ca or call 1-877-661-0314.
READ MORE: Chilliwack delivering the highest fertility rates in the country
@CHWKcommunity
jessica.peters@abbynews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation here.