Local residents throughout Lanark, Leeds-Grenville and Frontenac showed their support for our local hospitals and Community Healthcare Centres (CHCs) on October 17th as the annual Lake 88.1 Radiothon raised over $109,000 in pledges. The donations will go towards the purchase of specific pieces of equipment identified by the Almonte General Hospital/Fairview Manor Foundation, the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital Foundation. In addition, money was raised for programs run by Country Roads Community Health Centre in Portland and Westport, ConnectWell Community Health in Lanark and Rideau Community Health Services in Smiths Falls and Merrickville.
For the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, their portion will cover a large part of the $96,000 needed for eight new inpatient beds. The Almonte General will put money towards new lighting for its Emergency Room and planned CT Scan Unit. And Carleton Place will be using funds to buy equipment for its new Emergency Department which is slated to begin construction this fall, with completion in 2024. Lake 88 station manager Brian Perkin was thrilled by the support, noting that residents throughout the area gave generously despite tight economic times for many at the moment. Perkin stated, “After a tough two and a half years of Covid, people wanted to express their appreciation for our hospital and healthcare workers. They understand the staffing shortages. They really want nurses and others in the system to know that their efforts are valued. With the donations today, we’re able to provide our healthcare pros, with the tools they need.”
The 12-hour Radiothon broadcast featured interviews with doctors, nurses, hospital and CHC administrators, plus patients and volunteers. A number of these guests told listeners about the new partnerships and bonds that the pandemic had created. Patti Morton, Integrated Director of Allied Health Services for both the Almonte and Carleton Place hospitals, called these new relationships one of the ‘Gifts of Covid’. Despite the crisis, Morton said the community, drug stores, public health units and primary care providers all pulled together to establish much-needed Covid testing sites, vaccination clinics and patient supports in a remarkable show of cooperation.
Other interview guests emphasized how critically important fundraising is in supporting local hospitals and CHCs. Various speakers highlighted the on-going misconceptions about hospital funding and the fact that a majority of Ontario residents are still unaware that provincial funding of healthcare does not provide for the purchase of medical equipment. The area hospital foundations and CHCs thanked donors for providing much-needed funds to help replace or purchase new equipment and to fund rural healthcare programs.
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