A.I. DuPont Hospital gets federal funds for new building

Expansion project at the children’s hospital will include a five-story patient pavilion and an expanded pediatric intensive care unit.

A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children will receive $350,000 through a federal appropriation secured by Delaware’s congressional delegation.  The money will be used to help fund a major expansion at the hospital.  The expansion includes a five story patient pavilion, featuring private rooms with sleeping accommodations for parents.

Hospital CEO Tom Ferry says the expansion will benefit the hospital’s patients for decades.  “The pediatric intensive care unit in particular is integral to our hospital, with virtually every department depending on the services that it provides, taking care of the sickest of the sick kids.”

Congressman Michael Castle (R) says the federal funding couldn’t be going to a more worthy cause,  “Because people count on this hospital, and they count on the pediatric intensive care unit to help children survive.”

Senator Carper says while the federal appropriation that’s going to the hospital is an “earmark”, which has a negative connotation for some, this is no “bridge to nowhere.”  “This is a bridge to the future for a lot of kids and for their families, and a better and brighter future.”

The expansion project also received $1-million from pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca which is based just around the corner from the hospital.  The project is expected to get underway later this year.