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Retired nurse donates $30,000 to Victoria Hospital

Mar 16, 2013 | 1:05 PM

A retired nurse has donated $30,000 dollars to Victoria Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit which will be used to purchase six syringe infusion pumps.

The machines, used to administer medication and relieve pain, are crucial for an effective palliative care facility said the hospital foundation’s executive director Rob Dalziel. Each Pump “allows an automated form of medication and pain management which brings great comfort to patients requiring that type of care,” said Dalziel.

The palliative care unit’s nurse manager, Tannice Thompson, said the donation will increase the quality of care her staff is able to provide. “We have several infusion pumps now however they are old and failing. We have such a huge patient load and having six or more new medication pumps is going to have a significant impact on patient care and comfort,” she said in a statement released by the hospital.

In order to decide how the large contribution would be spent, Dalziel met with a member of the donor’s family. Once it became clear that the donor wanted to contribute to the palliative care unit of the hospital, Dalziel and Thompson determined that adding the pumps would be the best way to use the money.

Dalziel said it was a great example of how a donor and the foundation can work together to make the most of a donation. “We were able to match the size of the gift with some of the needs in the palliative care unit and it just fit beautifully,” he said.

The donor completed her nurse training at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert in the 1950’s. She then moved on to work in Edmonton and Saskatoon before coming back as a retiree to Prince Albert.

According to the Hospital’s written statement, she “was thrilled to learn her donation will be helping so many people.”

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