The Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation has raised funds for crucial programs and equipment not funded by Interior Health since 1984, and after more than 40 years, we are not planning on slowing down. During the last board meeting - the first of the new fiscal year - the directors voted to fund projects for well over $200,000. Improved patient care continues to be a focus, and while the approved items are not a priority for Interior Health, they are for health care in the Nicola Valley. All money raised will be used for equipment that stays in the community, improving health care for you and your loved ones.
The Board of Directors voted to support local health care with these equipment purchases:
Panda Infant Resuscitation Unit - $39,000. While there are no maternity services for childbirth in Merritt, sometimes children are born in the Merritt ER. Being able to provide the best care for those children is critical. The Panda Infant Unit provides integrated resuscitation capabilities with monitoring, integrated scale, x-ray tray, uninterruptible power supply, and more.
12 new patient beds - $180,000. The current beds at the Nicola Valley Hospital & Health Centre are well over 20 years old and are showing signs of wear and tear. As soon as any of the components break down, the bed cannot be used at all and patients have to go to Kamloops or Kelonwa for care. Parts for the beds are ordered from Europe and have a lead time of about 6 months, adding to the challenge. The directors agreed that this is a priority for better care in the Nicola Valley and committed to funding 12 new beds.
Anyone who has spent a night in the hospital while a loved one is receiving care will know that there is little comfort in visitor chairs. Yet, having the support of loved ones is crucial for patients and the NVHCEF agreed to fund two “sleeping chairs” at $750 each.
The foundation also confirmed $5,000 in funding for the Merritt & District Hospice Society, which provides an extensive range of support services and education surrounding the topics of palliative care, bereavement and grief support, as well as advancing and life-limiting illness.
With your help, we can raise the funds to provide these important equipment upgrades, please consider donating today. If you choose to donate via Canada Helps online, you will receive an immediate donation tax receipt. You can find information about all donation options here, and more ways to support the work of the NVHCEF here.
