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Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s It’s Critical campaign exceeds $7 million fundraising goal

Funds going towards equipment and a permanent High Acuity Unit
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Dr. Omar Ahmad, Island Health department head of emergency and critical care medicine (left to right), Avery Brohman, Island Health executive director, and Joe O’Rourke, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards vice-president and general manager, highlight a recent $2.65 million donation toward the Its Critical campaign. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation)

The Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s It’s Critical campaign has exceeded its $7 million goal, but the organization says the need is still there.

The funds go towards securing hospital equipment and a permanent High Acuity Unit (HAU).

A total of $1 million will be used to purchase ventilators, patient monitors, video bronchoscopes, an ultrasound and a continuous renal replacement therapy machine. The other $6 million will go towards the creation of a permanent High Acuity Unit (HAU), which has had its design and building fast-tracked.

HAUs are a type of critical care unit that treats patients who have conditions that are too serious for acute care, but not serious enough for the intensive care unit. An interim HAU at Royal Jubilee Hospital has cared for 250 patients.

READ: It’s Critical hospital campaign gets $2.65M donation to advance Victoria critical care

The foundation said the donations have helped get new, leading-edge critical care equipment in the hands of caregivers at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

More than 4,000 people donated to the It’s Critical cause.

“We’re tremendously grateful for our giving community’s generosity and support of our hospitals,” the foundation said in a press release. “Together, we can continue to enhance the world-class care we have right here on Vancouver Island.”

The foundation is still accepting donations, which it says will go to other “much-needed critical care resources.” You can donate by calling 250-519-1750 or going to the It’s Critical website (victoriahf.ca/critical).

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