MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
May 31, 2011

        First baby born at LHSC’s new North Tower

LONDON, Ontario –London Health Sciences Centre is pleased to celebrate the birth of the first baby in the newly opened North Tower at LHSC’s Victoria Hospital. Born this morning at 00:56, baby girl Rowen weighs seven pounds, 13 ounces and is the daughter of Candi and Peter Boultbee.

"I am very excited to be a part of the first birth in the new North Tower,” says Dr. Kirk Hamilton, family medicine obstetrics. “The new facility is amazing and I am especially pleased to be working side-by-side with my new colleagues from St. Joseph’s.”

LHSC’s obstetrical care unit moved into their brand new space in the Grace Donnelly Women's Health Pavilion at Victoria Hospital yesterday in advance of the transfer of all obstetrical care services from St. Joseph's; set to take place this weekend. Joining LHSC is a team of obstetrical staff from St. Joseph’s, who recently transferred in advance of the final moves, to train and work in the new North Tower.

St. Joseph’s will continue to offer obstetrical care services until noon on Saturday, June 4. All women who start their labour after noon on June 4 will need to come directly to LHSC’s Victoria Hospital. The final birth at St. Joseph’s Hospital is expected to take place some time on June 4 or in the early hours of June 5. Media will be informed of that special arrival as well.

"This is an historic moment as we welcome the first baby born in our new North Tower and as we welcome St. Joseph’s physicians and staff to LHSC,” says Bonnie Adamson, LHSC president and CEO. “Together we will continue to provide our outstanding tradition of care to mothers, babies and families.”

Donors from across the region have contributed substantially towards the construction and equipping of the North Tower, and they continue to show their generosity. LHSC and the London Health Sciences Foundation would like to thank the following companies for their generous contributions to a gift basket presented to the family of the first baby born in the new North Tower:

About London Health Sciences Centre
London Health Sciences Centre has been in the forefront of medicine in Canada for 135 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children’s Hospital, South Street Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, two family medical centres, and two research institutes – Children’s Health Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute, a joint research initiative with St. Joseph’s Health Care, London. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 50 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in Southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital’s nearly 15,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information visit www.lhsc.on.ca

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For media inquiries contact:

Rachelle Wood
Corporate Communications and Public Relations
London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500, ext.77642
Rachelle.wood@lhsc.on.ca

After hours:

Call LHSC Switchboard at (519) 685-8500 and ask to page the communication consultant on-call