NEWS

January 10 , 2008

Scotiabank Gives $25,000 to CT scanner

Scotiabank has donated $25,000 to the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation to support the CT scanner campaign. This donation represents the bank's ongoing commitment to fund the recent renovations and new technology that is benefiting patients of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance (MHA).

   Pictured above: Staff of Scotiabank in Strathroy.

“I was really impressed with one of our staff member's efforts to raise money for the CT scanner through a gala fundraiser, and the Branch wanted to help,” said Denise Sheriff, Manager, Scotiabank Strathroy. “We're delighted to be a partner in the hospital's CT campaign because at Scotiabank, support for healthcare is a key part of our community involvement, and this investment is our way to show our support.”

In October 2007, Lorna Campbell , Manager of Customer Service at Scotiabank in Strathroy was Chair of the Images of Excellence Gala fundraiser which raised over $80,000.00 for the CT scanner. Lorna also serves as vice-chair on the Strathroy Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.

“The Hospital is fortunate to have strong corporate partners such as Scotiabank, that consider healthcare a priority in our community,” said George Sinker , CT Campaign Co-Chair and Past Board Chair of SMGH Foundation. “Gifts such as this help the Hospital to offer the best possible healthcare facilities, and in turn improve the Hospital's ability to attract the best minds and physicians.”

The CT campaign, ‘It's About Time!' is focused on bringing first rate diagnostic imaging services to serve over 80,000 people in the region, which in turn has also attracted new staff and physicians to the hospital.

Following two years of planning, building renovations, staff training and installation, the CT went into operation in early May 2007. It has since performed 2629 scans. However, the two foundations have raised just over $2 million, and must continue to seek donors for the $400,000 required to complete payment of the CT.

“Having these new diagnostic tools means that wait times are decreased, there is no need to travel to major urban centres, and diagnosis is quicker for patients,” says Dr. Paul Ferner, Chief of Staff, Strathroy Hospital site of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance. “Improved access to high quality health care service and technology such as the new CT scanner translates into better health outcomes for residents of communities across our region.”

Prior to the CT scanner being installed, patients had to travel to other hospital centres and endure long wait times to receive a scan. CT scans can quickly and accurately diagnose life threatening illness and injury, including many different types of cancers, stroke, and severe trauma among many other afflictions.

Through the two MHA hospital sites in Newbury and Strathroy, many residents in the municipalities of Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent and Elgin counties receive their primary health care. Many patients from other hospitals are transferred to Strathroy to receive scans as the hospital has the second lowest wait time for a CT scan of all the hospitals in the south-west Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

The need for a CT scanner for residents in the region was identified some time ago. After the provincial government approved the unit to be housed at Strathroy Hospital , the new equipment was dependent on a $2.5 million investment to be raised through community donations.