Nov. 8, 2007/- The Whig Standard newspaper is urging municipal councils to support the redevelopment of Kingston’s hospitals.

In a November 8th editorial called “Health Care Instincts” the newspaper called the recent donations by Belleville and Hastings County to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, the fundraising arm of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care, “thoughtful responses”.

“The city of Belleville recently pledged $820,000 to Kingston hospitals, and the County of Hastings committed another $654,000. Belleville and Hastings County also have generous physician recruitment plans that have successfully attracted family doctors. So when it comes to health care, these two civic governments clearly ‘get it.’," the paper said.

It also praised the Township of Rideau Lakes for making a donation to Kingston’s hospitals a few years ago.

“Rideau Lakes councillors, it seems, instinctively understood that it was in their interest - and the interest of their 9,300 residents - to support Kingston hospitals. Unfortunately, it's an instinct that isn't shared by all elected officials,” the editorial said.

The newspaper acknowledged that making a decision to support our hospitals is “not always easy”.

“Some see health care as a purely provincial responsibility, despite the fact that capital campaigns are an essential, non-negotiable aspect of all of hospital redevelopment projects,” it said.

The Whig said local councils should listen to their instincts like Rideau Lakes, Belleville and Hastings who “…did the right thing.”

The Foundation’s request to the City of Kingston includes support for all three Kingston hospitals: Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care. The Foundation requested a $10 million pledge and a grant equivalent to 50 per cent of the fees the City will receive from construction. The grant would be expected to be about $6 million.

A recent survey by COMPAS Research shows that a huge majority of people across Southeastern Ontario want their municipalities to support the redevelopment of the university hospitals of Kingston. Some 85 per cent agreed that all levels of government, including local government, should make health care a priority responsibility.

University Hospitals Kingston Foundation is the fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care. Created in 2005, the Foundation raises money for programs, equipment, education and research that benefit the 500,000 people in Kingston and Southeastern Ontario served by the three teaching hospitals. To find out more about giving opportunities or to make a donation call 613-549-5452 or toll-free 866-549-5452 or go online to www.kingstonhospitalsfoundation.ca.

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