FAQ: Why was a Tier 3 level NICU not in the original hospital plans?

The Tier 3 NICU and special care nursery are part of the birthing unit on Level 3.Mills Memorial Hospital currently provides maternal/fetal and neonatal services at the Tier 2 level.

No Tier 3 service site currently exists in Northern Health’s Northwest Service Delivery Area, and patients are often transferred to UHNBC (Tier 4) in Prince George or BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital (Tier 6) in the Lower Mainland.

Tiers of Service guidelines were revised just recently (January 2020), after the MMH Replacement project business plan was approved and design began (May 2019), which means a Tier 3 level of service was not included in the project’s original business plan, nor current design or budget.

The demand for perinatal and neonatal services in Northwest BC is expected to meet Tier 3 service level, however.

For reference, Perinatal BC’s Tiers of Service provide parameters around maternal/fetal care and newborn care services. The designation tier level depends on the services available at a facility.

More info here: http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/Documents/Resources/SystemPlanning/TiersOfService/TiersofService.pdf

The primary drivers for the decision to pursue a Tier 3 designation are the nature and number of births, as well as local service considerations.

Support this important addition!

The Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation is a volunteer organization that raises funds in support of Mills Memorial Hospital and Terraceview Lodge in Terrace. On June 3, the Foundation announced the 'Closer to Home' campaign, which is aimed at raising money to cover the cost of the Tier 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery at the new Mills Memorial Hospital.

Donate to the R.E.M Lee Foundation's 'Closer to Home' campaign by calling (250) 641-5526 or online at remleehospitalfoundation.org

Help support new mothers and babies in Northwest BC who need care 'Closer to Home'.