Media Release
KGH Auxiliary rolls out 50 new wheelchairs
Thanks to the efforts of the KGH Auxiliary, patients at Kingston General Hospital have access to 50 additional wheelchairs.
Since 2008, volunteers have generated more than $12,000 through the sale of 50-cent break-open lottery tickets as part of the Hospital Equipment Lottery Project for People (HELPP). The program focuses on raising funds for much needed patient care equipment.
“The KGH Auxiliary achieves such enormous success with its programs and events because of the dedication of its volunteers,” explains KGH President & CEO Leslee Thompson. “In turn, the hospital and the community benefit tremendously because of the Auxiliary’s commitment to recognize a patient care need and adopt or adapt unique fundraising initiatives.”
“We strive to create fundraising activities that are both fun and profitable,” says Sandra Fletcher, Auxiliary President. “Everyone - employees and visitors alike – love lotteries and these tickets are inexpensive to buy and fun to break open. There has been incredible support for this program and we couldn’t be more delighted to help the hospital provide the equipment it needs.”
Wheelchairs are in high demand at the hospital and sometimes, staff, volunteers and patients spend excessive time searching for one. The 50 new wheelchairs bring the total number to 120 but on any given day, locating them for patients can be challenging. The chairs are critical in various clinics, programs and at the front entrance, not to mention those needed by porters to transport patients to appointments and tests.
Unfortunately, wheelchairs occasionally go missing from KGH property. The public is encouraged to return any that are no longer needed in order to further replenish the hospital’s supply.
“It’s vital for KGH to ensure accessibility for everyone as part of our commitment to deliver high patient care standards,” says Thompson.
Affiliated with Queen’s University, Kingston General Hospital is a 456-bed teaching hospital that serves more than 500,000 people in southeastern Ontario and is the community hospital for the Kingston area. KGH provides an array of specialized acute and ambulatory clinical services including trauma, cardiac, stroke, pediatric, perinatal, end stage renal and stem cell transplants. Home to the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, KGH is dedicated to compassionate, high quality health care in a dynamic academic research environment. It features a robust research program and provides hands-on skill training for 1,900 health-care students annually. For more information, visit the web site at http://www.kgh.on.ca.
Media contacts:
Lindsey Foster, KGH Public Affairs, 613-549-6666 ext. 6875