The St. Joseph’s Hospital Board Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign to replace 54 beds at the Elliot Lake hospital.
The $324,000 campaign is being led by William Elliott of the Foundation Board, who also led the recent campaign to raise money for a CT Scanner at the local hospital. That succesful campaign raised $1.8 million and work is underway to have the equipment in place and operational by mid-January next year.
The fundraising sign was unveiled at the hospital this morning by Elliott and retiring hospital CEO Pierre Ozolins.
Elliott said after the success of the CT Scan fundraiser, the board decided to take on another fundraiser to replace the hospital beds. Elliott told reporters at the unveiling that after the CT fundraiser people came to him asking, “what’s next” with the board agreeing to move ahead with the bed replacement campaign.
“The enthusiasm in the community to support the foundation and support the hospital was obviously there so as a board we sat down with Pierre the hospital administrator and asked what’s the next kind of need that we could address. The idea of the bed unit (hospital bed replacement) was an easy one,” Elliott said.
Ozolins said beds were last replaced 15 years ago.
“It goes back to improving the patient care and improving the patient experience,” Elliott added of the decision to replace the beds.
He added the $6,000 price per bed may sound expensive, but “anything to do with medical you add a premium on there.”
Elliot said donations of any amount can be made.
“It all adds up.”
Residents, businesses and organization can make a donation online at CanadaHelps.org and ensure the donation is marked as a donation to the Elliot Lake Hospital Foundation, or send a cheque to the hospital with the same marking. Elliott said donors can contact him at ELNOS at 705-848-0229 extension 237 or Email: [email protected].
All those donating will receive a charitable receipt which is tax deductible.