IWK Health is home to the only emergency department (ED) in the Maritimes that specializes in caring for infants, children and youth. The IWK Emergency Department is also the only accredited Level 1 pediatric trauma centre east of Quebec.
What is a Level 1 trauma centre?
A Level 1 trauma centre can provide total care for every aspect of injury – from prevention through rehabilitation. No matter the injury, the IWK has access to all the surgical specialties and maintains a dedicated team to manage any kind of trauma. It also educates other hospitals on how best to care for seriously injured patients.
Why does the IWK need a new ED?
If you are faced with a situation where a child you love requires life-saving emergency care, the IWK ED is the place you need to be. It’s a flight, car ride, or ambulance drive away, and it means that children can get the care they need right here in the Maritimes.
Now nearly 40 years old, the IWK ED has outgrown its current space and infrastructure. For the first time in its history, the ED is close to exceeding 45,000 annual visits from patients across the region. A new space, triple in size, is needed to ensure world-class emergency care for our children, youth and families.
Construction is underway to make the new IWK ED a reality.
Features in the new ED
With input and consultation from patients and families, key components of the new ED will include:
- A dedicated Emergency Mental Health and Addictions Space with a private waiting area
- A Pediatric CT Suite to assess, diagnosis and treat serious illnesses
- A pre-Triage area to streamline care and reduce wait times
- X-ray*
- Child-friendly design elements and distraction features
- Sensory principles incorporated into all examination spaces Lighting and noise control And much more.
How can you help?
The IWK Foundation is privileged to work in partnership with IWK Health, the Province of Nova Scotia and our community of donors on the essential redevelopment. Our goal is to raise $26.5 million to support the purchase of specialized equipment as well as specific facility upgrades, enhancements and research.
Donors will help bring this new ED to the standard that Maritime patients and families have come to rely on and expect—an environment that is consistent with the philosophy that makes the IWK the special place that it is.
If you would like to support the IWK Emergency Department redevelopment project, please reach out to our major gifts team to discuss donor opportunities. You can also donate online now to the IWK ED Redevelopment Project.
Latest news
- Government of Prince Edward Island invests $2 million in IWK Emergency Department redevelopment project | IWK Foundation
- BMO supports pediatric emergency and mental health care with $750,000 gift to the IWK Foundation | IWK Foundation
- IWK Foundation announces $1-million donation from Bell Let’s Talk to support emergency mental health care within redeveloped IWK Emergency Department | IWK Foundation
- The IWK Foundation Celebrates a $1-Million Donation from J.D. Irving, Limited to Help Redevelop the IWK Emergency Department | IWK Foundation
- Irving Oil, the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation and Arthur, Sandra and Sarah Irving Donate $6 Million to new IWK Health Emergency Department | IWK Foundation