Surrey, B.C. - The Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society has committed $500,000 to Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation in support of the development of a new state-of-the-art hospital Emergency Centre.

In recognition, a section of the new Emergency Centre will be named the Surrey Firefighters Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Response Unit. The area will provide much-needed assessment, stabilization, and initial treatment facilities. Its design will include a secure waiting area, seclusion rooms with video monitoring, consultation rooms with viewing vestibules, and a room for medical examinations.

"A lot of the calls that require our help are as a result of people with mental health and addictions issues," says Terry Hunt, the Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society Vice President. "We know from experience this type of facility is needed."

As chair of the Surrey Mental Health Advisory Committee, Andrew Kellett agrees. For years, Kellett has lived with bi-polar disorder. "I think it's terrific what the firefighters are doing for mental health. This donation will benefit many people."

Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation has set a goal of $15-million for its Emergency Centre Campaign, which will be officially launched in the spring of 2007. The funds will supplement the $30-million the BC government has earmarked for Surrey Memorial Hospital's new Emergency Centre.

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Photos available upon request.

For more information contact:

Jason Howe
Media Relations Manager
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation
604-585-5666 ext 8284
cell: 604-613-6873
jason.howe[at]fraserhealth.ca