Editor:
On BC Day I reminisced how in 2010 we proudly declared that our province was the best place on Earth to live. COVID certainly underscored the accuracy of that statement. By any measure, B.C. did an exemplary job in minimizing the destructive impact of COVID on our province. The residents of Surrey, B.C.’s second largest city, have much to be proud of in how they immediately responded to the need for action. They were resilient, generous and creative. On behalf of the Surrey Hospital Foundation I would like to thank your readers for their kindness and tell them a bit about the positive impact they had on the Hospital and its ability to care for people with COVID.
When the pandemic appeared in B.C., Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH), with its new Critical Care Tower, paid for in part by community donations, and its highly skilled medical team, quickly became one of Canada’s busiest COVID-19 treatment centres. According to preliminary research released in June, SMH and a handful of hospitals in the Lower Mainland had the best survival rates in the world. Our clinical team’s heroic efforts were recognized on Canada Day by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with an in-depth Zoom call, which was shared with the nation.
Community donors made a concrete difference for COVID-19 patients receiving care at SMH. They funded 90 new pieces of equipment during the pandemic. The items ranged from defibrillators to resuscitate COVID-19 patients whose hearts had stopped beating, to iPads for quarantined patients to connect with loved ones.
Surrey restaurants, stores, community groups and wholesalers donated more than 144,000 food and coffee items to fuel the care teams working tirelessly through Phase 1.
Surrey residents donated funds for our public health nurses to care for vulnerable residents living on the streets and in shelters. Their donations paid for haircuts, provided foot care for ulcerated and diabetic feet, and funded transportation to medical appointments for homeless or vulnerable residents.
Surrey donors also contributed $175,000 for research into vaccines, treatments and cures for COVID-19. Their generosity was matched dollar for dollar by the Government of BC- doubling the impact of every donation.
Thanks to the support of Surrey residents SMH will continue to play an important role in BC’s health eco-system.
Your support makes us an unstoppable force for life-changing health care.
Jane Adams President & CEO Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation