Canada-based Guelph General Hospital has renovated the sixth floor to create the Pollard Family Special Care Nursery, with donations of C$6m from the Together, We Care campaign, led by The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital.

The donation includes a C$1m contribution from the Pollard family.

This upgraded nursery was officially opened to provide improved care for premature and sick infants.

It features ten private patient rooms, a room for twins, specialised facilities for severely sick babies, and enhanced patient safety measures.

Guelph General Hospital patient services vice president and chief nursing executive Melissa Skinner said: “The most important improvement to the space by far is the integration of families, who now are able to be part of their infant’s care journey.

“Those are precious moments in their lives, filled with both fear and excitement, we want to do everything we can to keep them connected through it all.”

In addition to the nursery, the facility has renovated the Family Birthing Unit Operating Room and newborn resuscitation area for easy access to the new nursery.

This initiative is said to be part of the hospital's ongoing efforts to improve healthcare in Guelph-Wellington, with more projects and a new hospital in the planning stages.

Guelph General Hospital president and CEO Mark Walton said: “I am grateful to our nurses, obstetricians, midwives, paediatricians, and family practice physicians who worked incredibly hard in temporary spaces during construction.

“Years of planning and fundraising helped make this moment possible, and I want to thank the Pollard Family for their support.

“We are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated team providing care and such a generous community investing in our work.”

Guelph General Hospital is an acute care facility offering a wide range of services, including emergency care, advanced diagnostics, speciality programmes, and regional services in vascular surgery and bariatric care.