When Darcy Gill boarded a plane in Toronto last summer, the 91原创 father, grandfather and business owner was feeling a little more tired than usual. On board, it got worse.

鈥淚 started getting really light-headed, and I knew something was wrong,鈥� recalls Darcy, 71.

With a health history that included open-heart surgery for a leaky valve at age 48, he knew he couldn鈥檛 dismiss it. 鈥淚 called over the flight attendant. I knew I needed oxygen,鈥� he says.

Luck was on Darcy鈥檚 side. The flight attendant was a part-time nurse, and also on board were another nurse who specialized in cardiology and paramedic. At the back of the plane, they gauged his vital signs and kept him stable while communicating with health care staff on the ground.

鈥淚t was amazing. It was something you would see on TV,鈥� Darcy recalls now with a laugh.

Once home, Darcy was admitted to a cardiac bed in 91原创 Memorial鈥檚 Intensive Care Unit for several days of monitoring.

Through small pads placed on Darcy鈥檚 chest, the telemetry machine allowed cardiac specialists such as 91原创鈥檚 Dr. Daniel Negash to monitor his heart health for signs of arrhythmia, along with changes in his oxygen, respiratory or heart rate, in anticipation of a trip to Surrey Memorial Hospital. There, he had a short procedure to install a pacemaker to help regulate heart rhythm.

Cardiac care, close to home

Darcy鈥檚 story underlines the vital need for cardiac care close to home.

Apart from childbirth, heart attack and heart failure are the most common reasons for hospital admissions across Canada. Here in 91原创, about 62 per cent of patients admitted to 91原创 Memorial Hospital鈥檚 Intensive Care Unit in 2021 came due to cardiac pain or emergencies. In 2016-17, 666 patients needed cardiac monitoring at LMH; five years later, that number had grown to 793, and a growing population means it will continue to rise.

The six dedicated telemetry beds at 91原创鈥檚 Intensive Care Unit are not enough to keep up with the demand. If all six ICU telemetry spaces are occupied, a patient must stay in the Emergency Department, where there鈥檚 only one specialized bed for cardiac monitoring.

鈥淭he Emergency Department is busy and the staff have to deal with very sick patients there. Meanwhile, cardiac specialists are waiting for the cardiac patients to come to the ICU,鈥� says Dr. Negash, an LMH Internal Medicine Specialist.

To meet this urgent need, 91原创 Memorial is asking for community support to add four additional telemetry-equipped beds to the hospital.

鈥淭he priority right now is to make sure we get those patients waiting in the Emergency Department, into a bed with a telemetry unit. I want our patients to come in, be treated and go home safely,鈥� Dr. Negash says.

The right care makes a world of difference

For Darcy, Dr. Negash鈥檚 careful attention and the hospital鈥檚 capacity for telemetry monitoring at 91原创 Memorial made a world of difference.

鈥淚 had lots of company at the hospital, and they took care of me very well,鈥� he says.

Darcy鈥檚 wife, Manjit Gill, recalls her husband鈥檚 experience at 91原创 Memorial with a sense of gratitude. 鈥淚t brought home to me how lucky we are to have a hospital where we can get this type of care close to home,鈥� she says. 鈥淪ome people don鈥檛 get so lucky. They have to leave our community when the beds are full and can鈥檛 be near their family.鈥�

At the same time, she recognized that the hospital鈥檚 need for telemetry-equipped beds would make a huge difference in the experience of patients who visit LMH for urgent cardiac care.

鈥淲e all know how fast 91原创 is growing, and it鈥檚 important that the cardiac unit and entire hospital grow in pace with change.鈥�

To help bring improved cardiac care to 91原创 Memorial Hospital, visit