Langley Memorial Hospital is celebrating 75 years of service in this community. In a series of stories over the coming months, the Langley Advance Times, in conjunction with the hospital foundation, takes a look at the past, present, and future of health care in Langley from a few different perspectives.
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Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation (LMHF) is ready to add four cardiac-monitored in-patient beds to meet current demand for cardiac services.
Heather Scott, executive director of the non-profit, said expanding the capacity will help alleviate preparations in an emergency situation and make space for patients in the emergency room.
She said the last time an investment was made in acute care beds at Langley’s hospital was in 1996. The population has grown by 62 per cent since then.
“Any investment right now is very helpful,” Scott said.
The foundation hopes to raise $645,000 to cover the four additional monitoring beds, which would increase the hospital’s total from six to 10. Some of the funds will also cover improvements to the hospital’s communitcation system used for cardiac monitoring.
Scott said a gala will be held in October to raise funds for the beds, the popular event will include dancing, Cuban-inspired food and music, live and silent auctions, and a raffle.
In the meantime, four beds in the old emergency department are being converted until the funds are raised to purchase the in-patient beds.
Terra Scheer, communications and stewardship at the foundation, said about 2,000 people visited the emergency department with cardiac-related symptoms each year.
“With an aging population across Langley City and Langley Township comes the greater likelihood of rapid deterioration in health, physical disability, and a growing need for complex long-term medical care,” she said.
Scheer pointed to a Fraser Health’s forecast predicting within Fraser Valley communities, the population of individuals 75 years and older will grow by 30 per cent by 2025, and by 149 per cent by 2040.
She said the hospital is operating beyond its designed capacity.
“Staff struggle to implement best practices in modern health care in outdated spaces that fall short on many fronts,” Scheer shared.
Scott said she is confident the government will come up with a solution.
“Then we’ll be able to start looking ahead quickly to prepare for more growth and to make sure we have the health care we need,” she said.
For more information, people can visit lmhfoundation.com.
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Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation fundraises throughout the year to support health-care workers and allow them to keep providing life-saving care. To this end, the foundation is preparing for its annual hospital gala. This year’s event, dubbed Hot Havana Nights, is being held Oct. 21 at the Coast Hotel & Convention Centre. It’s the 32nd year. Money raised will support the urgent need to expand cardiac care at the Langley Hospital. For info: https://lmhfoundation.com/events/gala
• And, for more LMH history check out this special publication.