KGH Foundation launches COVID-19 fund for hospital staff

Photo: KGH Foundation

Donations of PCR technologies to KGH's Larissa Yarr Medical Microbiology Lab are having a tremendous impact in local response to COVID-19.

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation has established a COVID-19 Response Fund to help hospital staff.

Over the last several weeks, KGH and other hospitals in the province have been faced with many challenges in order to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic.

All units at KGH have been impacted, while resources and equipment have been re-allocated to prepare for COVID-19 patients. 

During this time, the KGH Foundation has had an outpouring of requests from community members looking to support the hospital in any way they can.

“The impact of giving to support KGH right now will actually go beyond COVID-19,” says KGH Foundation CEO Doug Rankmore. “The COVID-19 Response Fund allows us to be responsive and nimble to our hospitals’ areas of greatest need, as they emerge."

"The fund will also help ensure our doctors, nurses and staff have the resources and equipment they need to deliver the highest quality care to all KGH patients, during and in the after-math of this world-wide pandemic.”

Two years ago, the microbiology lab at KGH received a second set of polymerase chain reaction equipment, thanks to Colin Pritchard, who also gifted the first set in 2016. These instruments allow KGH microbiologists to find and identify viruses at a faster rate than ever before.

“When we received the PCR technology, we couldn’t have known that we would be facing a global pandemic just a few years later," says KGH medical microbiologist and discipline director for IH medical microbiology Dr. Amanda Wilmer.

"Without PCR technology at KGH, we would not have any capacity for COVID-19 testing in Interior Health, and would continue to wait for long periods of time for results, which isn’t good for patients or infection control in the hospital.

"There is not a single day that goes by that we in the lab are not grateful for the support of the community.  I hope people know it’s making a difference.  I hope they know it is saving lives today and will continue to save lives in the future.”

Those wanting to donate to the COVID-19 Response Fund can do so online here.

Mailed donations are also accepted at:

KGH Foundation, 2268 Pandosy Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y1T2.

Or by phone at 250-862-4438.

For offers of in-kind supplies or service, email [email protected]