Dr. Lalita Malhotra exhanges a hug with Victoria Hospital Foundation Board Chair Lyle Karasiuk. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Health care

Opening of expanded hospital NICU in sight

Sep 27, 2019 | 2:00 PM

There was no shortage of emotion at a press conference Friday, after it was announced that plans to expand the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) at Victoria Hospital are moving ahead faster than expected.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has announced they will issue a Request for Proposals as early as next month to expand the nursery space at the hospital. The announcement comes just seven months after the $2.2 million fundraising goal was met. Victoria Hospital Foundation Board Chair Lyle Karasiuk said he was very excited to hear the next steps were being taken.

“That means that in the process we have already begun to say maybe 12 months, 16 months, 18 months down the way, there will be paint on the walls, there will be new doors open, and we will be gathered again to literally cut the ribbon,” he said.

In the meantime, work will continue on a plan to either renovate or replace Victoria Hospital. Karasiuk said he has been assured by the ministry that when the new hospital gets built, the expanded NICU will be a part of it.

“This NICU that we are building today is for tomorrow as well. So the modular facility they are talking about, and the concepts they are talking about, will not be lost when we talk about a new [hospital],” he said.

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Lyle Karasiuk says within two years, the official ribbon cutting could take place. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The fundraising committee behind the project had initially set a two year goal of raising $2 million, but were able to accomplish the feat in just six months. Last year’s Give A Little Life Day radiothon raised over $1 million.

By mid-January, with continued support from the community, the total had jumped to $1.4 million. Local doctor Dr. Lalita Malhotra then stepped forward last February, with the remaining $800,000. Dr. Erin Hamilton, Physician Executive for Integrated Northern Health, admitted even she was surprised to see the project plans move forward so quickly.

“I don’t think anyone was optimistic enough to think that, but knowing the donors in Prince Albert and in Saskatchewan, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised,” she said.

Dr. Hamilton says with the upgrading of the NICU, fewer local families will be traveling to Saskatoon, Regina or even Edmonton for care. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The opening of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon was recently announced. Hamilton said the intent with the expansion of the NICU at Victoria Hospital, is to create a network and have the ability to provide care as close to home as possible

“We know that any disruptions when you have to have families travel, is a disruption to the family. We want to keep moms and babies close together, close to their supports,” she said.

Hamilton added infants that do require higher levels of care will still be sent to Saskatoon or Regina, but explained there will be a lot more babies who can now get the care they need at Victoria Hospital.

Dr. Lalita Malhotra was also present for the press conference Friday and fought back tears as she expressed her gratitude to all the donors who contributed to make her dream a reality. Malhotra later told paNOW she knew her late husband was watching from up above, and would be equally proud of everyone’s effort.

“He always thought when he had to take babies to Edmonton, you know fly them out, he used to say ‘oh now we should have our own unit here.’ And I’m sure he is smiling now to see that the project is going through,” she said.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @nigelmaxwell