KGH Auxiliary pledges $2.5 million for hospital redevelopment

On the heels of another successful year, the members of the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) Auxiliary have announced a $2.5 million pledge for the next phase of redevelopment at Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s (KHSC’s) KGH site.

At the 113th Annual General Meeting this past June, KGH site auxiliary members passed a motion to commit to the bold pledge, which will be made over seven years. With the first $400,000 installment already in hand, the members are well on their way toward the ambitious fundraising goal.

“Our community is extremely fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers and staff” says Auxiliary President Sandra Fletcher, “Our much-loved retail operations, including the Café, Tuck Shop, Gift Shop and Hair Salon, continue to generate a healthy income, while serving the needs of staff, patients and visitors at the hospital. With all of this effort, and continued support from the community, we are confident that a stretch goal, in support of the redevelopment project, such as this can be achieved.”

Since its inception in 1905, the KGH Auxiliary has improved the hospital’s capacity to meet the needs of staff, patients and visitors. Since 1995 alone the Auxiliary has raised over $13 million in support of operating rooms, Dialysis and Central Processing facilities and patient care equipment.

This commitment from the Auxiliary is a major shot-in-the-arm for the next phase of hospital redevelopment. Hospitals in Kingston face the challenge of caring for an aging population while also addressing the rise in chronic disease, and increasing patient volumes. Adding to the complexity is that technological advancements have led to 21st century medical equipment being squeezed into 19th century era facilities. This has placed immense pressure on the KGH site, in particular.

A massive reconstruction effort is currently underway to replace four current buildings with a new, state-of-the art patient tower that will be home to new Clinical  Laboratories, Operating Suites, Emergency Department and ambulance bays, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Maternal and Child Health Unit, which will include new labour and delivery suites.

“I cannot stress enough how important and inspiring it is to have the more than 300 members of the KGH Auxiliary signal their commitment to this bold vision for revitalizing healthcare in our community” says Elizabeth Wilson, Chair of the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation's Board of Directors, “This phenomenal pledge by the Auxiliary is humbling and inspiring and serves as yet another example of the members’ ability to rally around a common purpose when the need is great.”