Surrey Memorial Hospital is preparing for the opening of its two new cardiac catheterization suites in Winter 2025 by training a dedicated team of nurses in specialized, hands-on interventional cardiology.
By partnering with Royal Columbian Hospital for real-time training, the hospital is ensuring its newly upskilled registered nurses are ready to provide life-saving cardiac care as soon as the new suites open.
“Every time a patient arrives, we’ll be ready to jump into action,” says Aman Aulakh, a registered nurse who will be among the first to start training for the cardiac catheterization suites at Surrey Memorial Hospital. “It’s not just about understanding the tools that we’ll be using—it’s about understanding the entire care journey: how every second counts for the patient and how we can be ready to help them, as part of their care team, through their toughest moments.”
The nurses training for Surrey Memorial Hospital’s future cardiac catheterization suites will support patients experiencing heart attacks and many other cardiac conditions. Their preparation goes beyond learning the latest techniques—it’s about being ready for anything.
Once operational, Surrey Memorial Hospital’s suites will provide faster diagnosis and treatment for heart disease, reducing the need for patient transfers and ensuring care is delivered when and where it is needed most.
In the months leading up to the opening of the new suites, nurses like Aulakh—many of whom are new to the cardiac specialization—will undergo intensive, real-time training in existing suites at Royal Columbian Hospital. There, they will build the essential skills needed for cardiac catheterization, learning everything from critical interventions to patient monitoring and procedural coordination. Their training begins with understanding the full patient journey, from arrival and treatment to post-procedure recovery, ensuring they are ready to provide expert cardiac care when the new facility opens in Winter 2025.
“During procedures, it’s all about being part of a team, understanding the roles and needs of everyone to ensure the patient receives the best treatment possible,” says Anna Tang, a clinical nurse educator. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the cardiac catheterization program develop, grow and make a difference.”
Before the new suites open at Surrey Memorial Hospital, nurses will gain hands-on experience in an already operational cardiac catheterization suite. They will start as circulating nurses, managing sterile supplies, administering medications and maintaining detailed charts. As their training progresses, they will work alongside physicians, assisting with tool preparation and directly supporting procedures, ensuring they are fully prepared when the new suites at Surrey Memorial Hospital become operational.
As they gain experience, they will reach the final stage of training where nurses have an opportunity to learn how to respond to emergency situations.
"This is the most rewarding part of being a nurse," Tang adds. "I get to be part of something bigger than myself—part of a team that’s saving lives and making a real difference in our community. The opportunity to train the first cohort of nurses for the expansion of cardiac care in Surrey is something I’m incredibly proud of."
Once operational, Surrey Memorial Hospital’s suites will provide faster diagnosis and treatment for heart disease, reducing the need for patient transfers and ensuring care is delivered when and where it is needed most.
Learn more
The addition of two new cardiac catheterization suites underway at Surrey Memorial Hospital is part of the 30 priority actions that make up only one aspect of a regional strategy to enhance health care in Surrey. The broader regional strategy also includes a new medical school at Simon Fraser University, a new hospital and BC Cancer Centre in Cloverdale and expanded community-based services.
For a look into the behind-the-scenes work happening, check out our video:
If you have any questions regarding the construction activities underway, please email: SMHPriorityInitiatives@fraserhealth.ca
Learn more about how we are transforming care in Surrey.
