February 2, 2010
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation > Media Room > February 2, 2010

Manufacturer helps meet SMH’s neonatal needs

Surrey, B.C. – A local manufacturer is supporting expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit by purchasing two state-of-the-art neonatal beds – one from each of the company’s two Lower Mainland facilities.

HAL Industries, which produces a wide range of protective construction membranes, has made a $130,000 donation to Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation to buy two full-featured isolettes (neonatal beds).

The company’s gift comes as Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) expands its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and becomes Fraser Health’s designated site for the care of the most premature and sickest (‘level 3’) newborns, as well as high-risk pregnant women.

The hospital’s current neonatal intensive care unit will gradually grow from 20 to 32 beds over a two-month period beginning in mid-February. This will be the first step in building a larger 48-bed regional NICU in SMH’s new critical care tower, expected to open in 2014.

“HAL Industries gave us a very pleasant surprise,” says Foundation Chair Jacy Wingson. “They had indicated their interest in supporting Surrey Memorial by purchasing a neonatal bed. In the end, they bought two.”

"As business owners, we think it is important to support our local health facilities in any way we can," says HAL Industries co-owner Donna Harco.

Established in 1992, Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation has raised more than $50 million to purchase medical equipment, fund innovative programs, and support training and research.

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For more information or interviews, contact:

Jason Howe
Public Affairs Director
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation
604-585-5666 ext 8284
cell: 604-613-6873
jason.howe{at}fraserhealth.ca
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