With the ribbon officially cut today for the new complex care and palliative care space at the Douglas Memorial Site in Fort Erie, the Niagara Health System healthcare team is busy preparing the area for patients beginning Thursday, September 19.
“Combining the complex care and palliative care programs in this dedicated space creates many benefits for our patients and families and makes it easier for our healthcare team to provide patient-centred, quality care,” says Niagara Health System Interim President and CEO Dr. Sue Matthews. “In addition to being bright, spacious and easy to access, this new space is purpose-designed for the needs of our complex care and palliative care patients.”
The redevelopment includes:
- six dedicated palliative care beds all on the same floor
- same-floor access to our allied healthcare services: physiotherapy, and speech, recreational and occupational therapy
- upgraded infection prevention and control features
- a new patient wander guard system
- updated lighting at bedsides and in common areas
- aesthetic upgrades in patient areas to provide a more home-like, healing environment
- relocated and redecorated family room that gives families of patients a private space while visiting loved ones
“Many individuals and groups played a part in making this redevelopment possible – community donors, supporters and foundations; volunteers; members of our healthcare team; partners,” says Dr. Matthews. “I would like to acknowledge the teams and generous supporters of the Douglas Memorial Hospital Foundation and the NHS Foundation/It’s Our Time Campaign, which each committed $175,000 to this project, in addition to the NHS’s $150,000 contribution. A project like this just isn’t possible without community support and leadership, and we are grateful to all of our supporters and donors, and to the provincial government, for helping to make this project a reality.”
In addition, a sunroom project was completed this summer on the first floor of the site through the support of both the Douglas Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Douglas Memorial Hospital Foundation. The sunroom provides patients and families a place to congregate and enjoy the surroundings. A dedicated wheelchair accessible shower room was also completed earlier this year.
Media contact: Caroline Bourque Wiley, Manager, Communications, 905-378-4647, ext. 43113; cwiley@niagarahealth.on.ca
