Teck donates $2.5 million to RIH emergency department

The new emergency department at Royal Inland Hospital is getting a $2.5 million boost from B.C. mining corporation Teck Resources. Construction of the Teck Emergency Department is expected to start in July, the donation will include antimicrobial copper surfaces and equipment to...

Teck donates $2.5 million to RIH emergency department

The new emergency department at Royal Inland Hospital is getting a $2.5 million boost from B.C. mining corporation Teck Resources.

Construction of the Teck Emergency Department is expected to start in July, the donation will include antimicrobial copper surfaces and equipment to reduce disease spread, according to a news release.

Copper's antimicrobial properties can eliminate nearly all harmful bacteria that come in contact with it in two hours.

The installation of copper surfaces at the Kamloops hospital is one of a series of similar additions to other B.C. hospitals. Teck has supported copper surface installations at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Vancouver General Hospital and Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail.

Construction at the emergency department is part of Interior Health's second phase of Royal Inland Hospital renovations. Starting in July, it follows the opening of the Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower the same month.

Once phase two begins, renovations to the hospital are expected to continue until 2026.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.