The completely renovated and redesigned Labour and Birth, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Mother Baby Unit have officially opened their doors at the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care at the Regina General Hospital. Donor dollars, which amounted to $6 million, helped to furnish and equip the centre.

Tom Newton, Vice President and General Manager of Rawlco Radio says, "Rawlco Radio feels very proud to be a lead supporter of shaping the future of mother-baby care. It began with a vision by the founder and CEO of Rawlco Radio, Gordon Rawlinson, and his brother Doug. Hospitals of Regina Foundation donors embraced Gordon and Doug’s vision, and they have turned it into reality."

In the past, doctors, nurses and mothers faced many challenges, recalls Gail Rosseker, manager of the Labour and Birth Unit. "Caregivers bumping into one another when they’re trying to resuscitate a baby was certainly difficult, and we urgently needed to change that. The much larger rooms in the new Labour and Birth Unit will address this critical issue."

The Rawlco Centre will be a leading mother-baby centre in Canada. "The Centre is designed to be as family-centred as possible," explains Dr. George Carson, Department Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "Women have their own private rooms and bathrooms, which are far more comfortable," says Dr. Carson. "They have the benefit of a homelike environment with the safety of hospital equipment readily at hand."

Hospitals of Regina Foundation donors recognized the need for improved health services and were the driving force behind this project. If it hadn’t been for them, we wouldn’t have come so far,says Gail Rosseker.

Women during and after their labour are seeing and feeling the benefits of the newly designed centre. One of those women is Kellie McAloney. "The new rooms are nice and bright and the private bathrooms and tubs are great. The new Mother Baby Unit will be a blessing to families."

Click here to watch a short video on the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care.