Released on October 6, 2016
Saskatoon Silverspring-Sutherland MLA Paul Merriman, on behalf of Health Minister Jim Reiter joined health region representatives, fundraisers, donors, patients and health care providers at the official opening of a new state-of-the-art biplane interventional suite at Royal University Hospital.“Our government is following through on our promise to invest in infrastructure and improve access to quality health services,” Merriman said. “We are keeping Saskatchewan strong with this investment in leading-edge medical services.”
An angiography biplane surgical suite combines imaging with surgical techniques, allowing physicians to perform timely, life-saving procedures for conditions such as stroke, aneurysms, internal bleeding, and cancer. Because the technology is designed to be minimally invasive, it also provides benefits such as shortened hospital stays and improved post-procedure recovery times, lower risk, and decreased pain for patients. Royal University Hospital is the provincial centre for the treatment of complex brain blood vessel diseases. Patients began receiving treatments with the suite in July.
Peggy Benko knows exactly how important it is to have this technology available in Saskatchewan. An aneuryism in her brain caused a stroke. The Regina resident was airlifted to Saskatoon for treatment. “They saved my life and because of that, I was able to go to my son’s wedding and am now looking forward to holding my first grandchild,” Peggy says. “If it had not been for the team and the technological equipment in the angiography suite, I wouldn’t have made it.”
See Peggy Benko’s story on the Royal University Hospital Foundation website https://ruhf.org/peggys-story/.
“Saskatoon Health Region has committed to an environment where we provide excellent care for our patients,” Saskatoon Regional Health Authority board member Bobbylynn Stewart said. “This new suite will ensure the best possible outcome for patients.”
The Government of Saskatchewan provided Saskatoon Health Region with $2.26 million toward the new suite. The Royal University Hospital Foundation raised the remaining $1 million required to renovate the space and install the equipment, plus an additional $40,000 for an anesthesia machine.
“Donor support through our Campaign for Royal University Hospital will now ensure specialists and medical teams have the most advanced equipment for patient care,” said Royal University Hospital Foundation CEO Arla Gustafson.
The new suite is the second angiography biplane suite at Royal University Hospital. The older suite will soon undergo renovations to ensure its technology matches the new suite.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Communications Tyler McMurchy
Saskatoon Health Region Health
Saskatoon Regina
306-655-3476 306-787-4083
communications@saskatoonhealthregion.ca tyler.mcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca