Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Matt Lewington was welcomed to Delta Hospital Tuesday during a celebration event which also marked the arrival of a new orthopedics surgical unit.
Delta Hospital Auxiliary president Robbi Schultes, one of the speakers to welcome Lewington and his wife Laura at the event held at the hospital’s Courtyard Café, said the auxiliary is happy that the hospital “can now offer some orthopedic procedures, albeit as day surgery.”
“Whenever I speak anywhere I always tell people that as well as foot, ankle and sports injuries, you also do bunions,” Schultes said, drawing some laughter from the crowd.
She noted the auxiliary is funding all the necessary surgical equipment as well as a cast unit in partnership with the Delta Hospital Foundation.
Orthopedic surgeries will be performed in the Surgical Daycare Unit at Delta Hospital and will include foot and ankle injuries, bunions, forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot arthritis, instability and stabilization, and ankle arthroscopy, a press release notes.
Orthopedics is an area of great need for expansion in Fraser Health, said foundation vice-chair Ingrid Barnes.
“Some patients wait a long time to get orthopedic surgeries done. Now, some relief can come to this,” she said. “Also, it’s great when our hospital can address an issue that usually sends patients to other healthcare facilities in the Lower Mainland.”
Lewington is from Halifax and is a graduate of Dalhousie University’s medical school.
He said he’s felt “so well-supported” since coming to Delta.
“I look forward to building an example of what a small hospital can do when everybody works so well together, like you guys already do,” he said.
The auxiliary’s Elaine Canning called it a “special day” for the hospital.
