Prince Rupert Regional Hospital just opened a specialized respiratory therapy clinic equipped with new machines and a newly hired respiratory therapist (RT).
Consensus among attendees at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 3 was this is a game-changer for residents who previously had to travel south for certain services.
The ceremony honoured the late city councillor Nelson Kinney, who dedicated 16 years to Prince Rupert council. Kinney struggled with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and died in 2018 while advocating for a respiratory clinic to serve the community.
Six years later, his dream has finally come to fruition, and family, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate his legacy, sharing heartfelt memories of a compassionate man who was also a talented hairstylist, athlete, and advocate for seniors, youth and industry.
Judy Fraser, Kinney’s long-term friend who initiated the clinic fundraiser in 2018 after learning it was one of his last wishes was in attendance.
“There are many people suffering from lung issues, whether it be from smoking or many other causes, I don’t think we’ve had the ability to help these people as we will now, those people would have had to travel to get the care they’re now going to get here, and that was Nelson’s dream,” said Fraser.
Kinney’s absence was deeply felt in the event, highlighting his impact on everyone around him.
“I bet in 1980, if you did a poll of the people in Rupert, there wasn’t one woman who, at some time hadn’t had their hair done by Nelson, because he was very popular," Fraser added. "He also had a really kind demeanour, and wanted to help anybody that he could, very friendly, outgoing and willing to help anybody in need,”
Mayor Herb Pond, city councillors, and Northern Health staff welcomed the new respiratory therapist, Ian Mohammed, from New Brunswick. He is in his 21st year in the field and is optimistic about improving lung care in Prince Rupert.
“Stop smoking. Get help, stop smoking,” was his message to the community.
Mohammed will fulfill the need for a consistent RT, which Rupert lacked before, and also enhance the regional hospital’s emergency and acute care capabilities.
He will provide essential spirometry tests and additional on-site services, reducing patients’ need to travel long distances. Spirometry analyzes lung function, assisting doctors in diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as lung recovery after surgery.
The clinic is equipped with the latest technology, including the Hamilton T-1 ventilator, designed for patients of all ages, from neonates to adults. Mohammed will use it to support acute care, including emergencies and patient transport.
Ventilator handling is also a key part of ongoing training at the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital for doctors and nurses to handle critical cases, such as intubating babies or managing respiratory failure in adults.
Mohammed points out that the region didn’t have an “acute RT” before—someone specifically trained to handle life-threatening respiratory issues in emergencies. Now, with his added expertise, the hospital can provide better care for many conditions and complex cases requiring air transfers.
The clinic will also help identify allergy triggers in pregnant women and individuals with unexplained respiratory issues by offering tests and referrals to specialists.
“So there’s many things that we didn’t address before, and that gives us the ability to look at things in a better way and be more ready,” said Mohammed.
He is also trying to bring in students for training, who will be the next generation of RTs, to ensure long-term, local patient support. The clinic can assist with numerous respiratory ailments, from diagnosis to management and post-treatment monitoring.
The Nelson Kinney Respiratory Clinic is open five days a week and on weekends for emergencies only.
