Record births highlight needs at Richmond Hospital’s Birth Centre
The following article appeared in the April 19th issue of the Richmond Review.
The arrival of a healthy baby into the world must certainly rank as one of the most joyous occasions we can ever celebrate.
Over the past 12 months, our Birth Centre has welcomed nearly 2,000 babies, a new record for Richmond Hospital. These are nearly 2,000 reasons—and precious lives—to celebrate right here at home.
Here in Richmond, we are fortunate to have the Birth Centre at Richmond Hospital deliver outstanding care for entire families to bring new life into our world. Originally opened in 1966, the Birth Centre underwent a large-scale $6.5-million renovation in 2008 to transform it into a state-of-the-art maternal/newborn care facility. It offers a new maternity-specific operating room and recovery area, 15 private maternity care rooms and a six-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Lyn Jones is the clinical resource nurse for the Birth Centre at Richmond Hospital. Originally a midwife from Australia, Lyn has been a Richmond resident for 33 years, a nurse for 44 years and working here at Richmond Hospital for the past 25 years.
Lyn is responsible for providing clinical practice support to staff and front line leaders, overseeing education and when it’s especially busy, putting aside her leadership duties to work alongside her colleagues to provide frontline care. Lyn is passionate about providing the most positive experience for families.
“Ever since I began living in Richmond, I always wanted to be a part of this community and it’s been a gift. I think it is an incredible privilege to see new life come into the world. Watching families come together. The miracle of new life. I still cry at new births. I know how special it is.
“Our team is renowned for its compassion and caring. I can truly say our hospital team is a family. That’s what makes a big difference. We really do care about each other and our patients. The physicians, the midwives, the nurses, the pediatricians, the unit clerks, the unit aides. The whole interdisciplinary team cares about each other and wants to provide people the very best care here at home.
“We have very real challenges though. The number of births has exceeded what we had planned. We desperately need new medical equipment right now. Old equipment is not good equipment. We have 25-year-old resuscitation carts, incubators which are just as old and prone to rust, and fetal monitors that can’t be serviced anymore because of their age.
“We’re always trying to ensure we have the right equipment in the right place at the right time. It can be incredibly frustrating especially on those very busy days when we’re constantly having to clean equipment and move it from room to room.
“It’s so much more efficient when we don’t have to run from place to place to get equipment. Staff can then provide the care effectively and be with people more because they’re not searching for equipment.
“We know the tremendous impact that donors can have to make sure our team can provide the best care right here in Richmond. Donors do make all the difference.”
Natalie D. Meixner is president and CEO of Richmond Hospital Foundation. Seewww.richmondhospitalfoundation.com for information.