Louise Marshall Hospital (LMH) here has embarked on a $5 million fundraising campaign to upgrade its emergency department and create an area for ambulatory care better suited to visiting specialists and their patients.
The fundraising drive was announced on Oct. 28 at Wellington North’s administration and finance committee by Dr. Bob McFarlane, a local dentist who is heading up the campaign.
McFarlane told committee members the $5 million represents 10 per cent of the total cost of the planned renovations, with the provincial government committed to paying the remaining 90%.
“What we’re doing at LMH is expanding emergency rooms, updating equipment and additional ambulatory care,” McFarlane said of the plan. “We have been challenged as a fundraising committee to raise $5 million.”
North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) CEO Jerome Quenneville told committee members provincial funding is dependent on the community raising its 10%. NWHC operates LMH and the hospital in Palmerston and has a working relationship with Groves hospital in Fergus.
“This is long overdue,” McFarlane said. “This is about 40 years overdue.”
LMH is the only hospital in the township and also serves parts of neighbouring Southgate Township and West Grey Township.
In addition, McFarlane says LMH also serves people from outside the township, with two busy highways – 6 and 89 – in the area that have the potential for accidents.
The hospital also has a heliport that can take patients suffering serious injuries to London within 20 minutes.
“This presentation makes you aware of what we have here,” McFarlane said of a video presentation that will make up part of the fundraising campaign.
“It’s good to see this is able to move ahead,” Quenneville said of the provincial government commitment to fund the work. “Now we have to do our part.”
As part of the campaign, organizers are looking to sign up potential donors to five-year contracts to spread out donations and make it easier for donors to contribute.
The contracts, said Quenneville, will show community commitment to the project.
Mayor Ray Tout lauded the hospital for getting provincial funding for the project. He noted several municipalities had received similar provincial commitments that were eventually withdrawn by the government following the last provincial election.
“If we’re going to grow, we need to expand,” Tout said of the emergency room and ambulatory care expansion.
Councillor Dan Yake, who is the township representative on the hospital board and doctor recruitment committee, said he expects the project will succeed.
“I’m pretty confident this community will come together for this project,” he said.
McFarlane said presentations will be made to other community groups and service clubs in a bid to get financial commitments.
