Improving Health Outcomes for Women in the North Cariboo

Improving Health Outcomes for Women in the North Cariboo

In the spring of 2019, Dr. Gavin Grapes, Chief of Staff at G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital identified a problem: the gap in obstetrical and gynaecological (OBGYN) services and the subsequent challenges faced by women in the North Cariboo. This gap meant that many patients had to travel to receive OBGYN services and/or avoided important medical attention altogether. This was indeed a problem with wide-ranging health impacts for women.

As a leader advocating for patients and healthcare services, Dr. Grapes initiated conversations with Northern Health to recruit an OBGYN physician to G.R. Baker. In doing so, additional surgical operating room time, resources, support, and a list of OB-GYN equipment valued at $45,000 was also identified. 

When Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (Spirit of the North) presented the opportunity to donate to enhanced OBGYN services at G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital, Integris Credit Union responded with a proposition. The people of Quesnel have a long history of raising money to improve health outcomes in their community. The OBGYN project provided yet another opportunity for residents to do just that … little did they know, they had already done it.

 “The Integris Support Your Girls (SYG) fundraiser was an annual event that ran from 2011 – 2016 and was founded to support the acquisition of a digital mam­mography machine at G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital,” says Laurie Johansson SYG founding chair. “During that time, our (Integris) team successfully involved many Quesnel residents and businesses in our SYG initiative – all of whom contributed significantly to our fundraising success. So, that shared success is due to the ALL IN support of our Quesnel friends and neighbours – the people and businesses that donated auction items, purchased tickets to the events then joined us every year at the event. The community helped us to raise $148,000 over the 6 years,” says Johansson.

“Then, in the fall of 2016, the Province announced that they would provide the digital mammography machine to G.R. Baker Memorial,” says Peggy McKenzie SYG past chair. “Approximately $121,000 of our SYG funds were used to procure major enhancements for the mammography unit; specifically the Picture Archival Communication System (PACS) and a dedicated ultrasound machine,” continues McKenzie. “We held the surplus SYG funds while seeking the next opportunity to make a significant investment in women’s health. We are delighted to partner with our community and the Spirit of the North to invest $20,000 in support of enhanced OB-GYN capabilities at G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital. This is in keeping with the ‘improving health outcomes for women’ theme of our Support Your Girls initiative,” says McKenzie.

Additional dollars were generously provided from the community directly to Spirit of the North who then matched every dollar that came in. Ultimately, this community collaboration is great news for families in the North Cariboo. 

Through its generous donors, the Spirit of the North has provided for much needed equipment at many of the Northern Health facilities in Quesnel over the years.  These are for items that would otherwise not be funded through any other means.  As equipment or enhancements to healthcare have been identified, funding has been made available to support these areas.  Ear, Nose and Throat surgical equipment for Dr. Naidoo at G.R. Baker Memorial, kitchen equipment at the Grace Young Centre and patient comfort and recreational equipment for Dunrovin to name a few.  The Spirit of the North is happy to work with donors who choose to designate gifts to healthcare in the Quesnel area.

The Spirit of the North provides a charitable means for individuals and businesses to give back to the area of healthcare they choose and designate the facility and location as well. “We are pleased to partner with the community-minded people at Integris and generous community donors by matching funds to support a value added service for patients in the referral area to G.R. Baker Memorial Hospi­tal,” says Judy Neiser, CEO of the Spirit of the North.

In September 2019, Dr. Stephen Boakye – Specialist Obstetrician & Gynaecologist – arrived in Quesnel.  To mark the occasion, Dr. Boakye was presented with a welcoming gift from his community: the specialised equipment and the additional surgical time in G.R. Baker Memorial’s operating room that he required to provide the best possible care for his patients. This is a testament to the generosity of the people and organisations that enrich our community. Together, we have enhanced access to OBGYN services leading to improved health outcomes for women in Quesnel.