A new grant for the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation has been earmarked for a facility to benefit hundreds of high-risk neonates and their families.
“Level II neonatal capacity is what we really need here,” stated Katrina Black, executive director at the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation. “We have a Level I nursery and that is just basic care for natural, uncomplicated birthing.”
The new six-bed nursery would be able to handle newborns that become high risk during labour and delivery. The hospital delivers approximately 3,000 babies a year, Black continued, and approximately one in five of them face such complications as being premature or requiring respiratory or antibiotic support. Approximately 600 families could benefit annually.
Currently, those neonates must be transferred to Edmonton facilities at either the Royal Alexandra or the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Black said that there are added benefits of the Sturgeon having its own Level II nursery.
“What’s tragic about this is – it’s not just because you’re always wanting a healthy baby from the beginning – it’s that mom and baby are separated because typically there aren’t beds for moms. It’s very traumatic for the families involved. It’s just so busy right now.”
That means that families would be able to stay in the same hospital as the delivery, and they would be able to stay together too. It would also reduce the strain on Edmonton’s facilities and health care providers.
“If we have that, it lessens the pressure on them.”
Level III babies – those requiring a neonatal intensive care unit – will still need to go to the Edmonton zone hospitals where those facilities exist.
The cheque for $8,729 was handed over by the St. Albert Community Foundation last month. It becomes the first show of support for the new nursery, a project that eventually will require $500,000 in funding. That involves redevelopment of the hospital’s infrastructure to create the space plus purchase of new equipment.
“It’s an incredible start! This was our very first donation. It’s very exciting for us. It kicked off our campaign.”
The Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation has set a timeline of 18 months to accomplish this goal. There are three other initiatives on that same timeline that, along with this one, are estimated to cost $1.5 million. Black is hopeful that the community will rally to raise that funding.
“The sooner we raise the money, the sooner we can have the service here.
To that end, the foundation is hoping to see another full house at its 23rd annual Friend Raiser Gala, coming up on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Enjoy Centre. Tickets are $175 each. The event includes a champagne reception, three-course dinner, wine offerings, live and silent auctions and a live dance band.
To purchase tickets or for information on sponsorship, people can contact Black at 780-418-7361 or visit www.sturgeonhospitalfoundation.org.
New Series
This is the first in a series of articles exploring the recent grants handed out by the St. Albert Community Foundation.
