Patient comfort, safety of Nurses focus of $1-million campaign.

The St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation is committed to raising $1-million to buy new hospital beds for the 2 north, 4th & 5th medical-surgical units.

Foundation President Ron Elliott hopes the fundraising goal can be met within 18 months, speeding the replacement of ageing beds. “This Campaign will be instrumental in increasing patient comfort and reducing the risk of injury to our invaluable nursing staff.” This project will also replace bedside tables, overbed tables, patient and visitors chairs in each patient room. Bed replacement has long been a high priority on the Hospital’s list of desirable projects. Many of the beds now in use in the medical and surgical units are well over 20 years old.

Ron Elliott Foundation President

The machinery within the beds that allows patients to adjust the height and position of the beds has begun to break down. Because the beds are often broken, nursing staff risk injury by trying to adjust beds manually or shift patients. Foundation representatives met with Linda Levesque, VP Patient Services and Dr. Tom Faulds, VP Medical Affairs earlier this year who were excited at the prospect of new beds.

Nursing staff were randomly surveyed to obtain their views on the needs to help nurses.“They were quite keen on the project.” Mr. Elliott says. “Replacing the beds will improve patient comfort and improve the work environment for our skilled nursing staff—an unbeatable combination.”

The Foundation already has some donations committed to the bed-replacement project including a generous donation of $250,000 from the Estate of Stuart Parsons. Letters will be sent to donors in the near future asking them to consider giving to this project. Mr. Elliott expects a strong show of support from the community, just like in past fundraising campaigns.

Anyone who might spend time at some point in their lives on a medical-surgical unit will benefit from these new beds. Mr. Elliott notes support for the Hospital translates not just into health benefits but also economic advantage for the community.

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