The Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District board approved more than $1.2 million in grants to Northern Health at its meeting on Thursday, July 17.
The first grant was a $1,120,400 minor capital grant while the second was a $100,000 building integrity grant, both of which were included in the district’s 2025 operating budget.
A report from district staff noted that minor equipment or minor capital grants have been provided to Northern Health since 1999, with “the requirement that the minor capital grant be utilized only for facilities within the RHD boundaries and that they provide a report each year detailing what was purchased with the grant and for what facilities.”
Similarly, the building integrity grant funds are used for building repairs only within the health district’s boundaries and a similar report is required.
A spreadsheet from Northern Health attached to the agenda for the meeting shows what the capital funding will go towards. All projects the regional health district is contributing towards are for the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia.
Capital purchases will include:
- 13 beds for six different departments at a combined cost of $375,394
- A portable ultrasound at a cost of $118,635
- Eight stretchers at a cost of $110,378
- An MRI-capable ventilator at a cost of $71,758
- An autotransfusion system at a cost of $53,812
- Two defibrillators for the emergency department at a cost of $48,854
- A defibrillator for the intensive care unit at a cost of $26,208
Another spreadsheet for the building integrity projects notes the $100,000 contribution from the regional health district but does not show the funds being allocated to any particular project.
