KGH Auxiliary donation supports Cancer Centre patients

It may not be all that high-tech but the Kingston General Hospital Auxiliary's latest equipment donation is sure having a big impact on patient care. It's a new water and ice dispenser, now up and running in our Cancer Centre.

"This is the kind of purchase we get quite excited about as we know it helps patients directly and makes their time here easier," says Sandy Thomas, KGH Auxiliary President.

The ice and water dispenser cost about $5,000 to purchase. It's been placed in the heart of the chemotherapy department and staff there say it arrived just in time.

"We have anywhere from 40 to 60 people through here each day and 90 per cent of them need a drink of ice water," says registered nurse Shelley Gallipeau. "Many of them take medications that make them thirsty. Some patients also keep ice chips in their mouths to help prevent any mouth sores from developing as a result of their treatment."

Volunteer Judy Torrents makes frequent trips to the machine on behalf of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

"The new dispenser is probably one of the best things we've had here to support patients. They are often here for long periods of time and this machine is a necessity," she says.

This won't be the only ice and water dispenser for patients in the Burr wing. The Auxiliary has also agreed to purchase one for the Mental Health Unit on Burr 4 using the profits from last year's annual KGH Auxiliary Golf Tournament.

To learn more about the KGH Auxiliary and the many ways it helps support patient care at KGH, click here.