February 21, 2007/- The Volunteers of Hotel Dieu Hospital are investing in the future of the institution they have served for more than 100 years. Volunteer Services to Hotel Dieu Hospital Kingston Inc. is making a $1 million pledge to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation – the fundraising arm of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Continuing Care Centre – to support the redevelopment plans for Hotel Dieu Hospital.

“The compassion and dedication of the volunteers is what makes Hotel Dieu Hospital such a special place,” said Roger Wright, Chair of the Foundation. “On behalf of our hospitals, staff and patients I want to thank them for their faith in this institution and its vision for the future as the region's ambulatory care centre.”

The $1 million pledge will support Hotel Dieu Hospital’s plans to complete work on creating Canada’s leading ambulatory health care centre. Some 36,000 square feet of existing space will be renovated into leading-edge ambulatory space that will provide highly specialized outpatient clinics in one location for patients from across Southeastern Ontario.

“We are pleased to be a part of the exciting future of Hotel Dieu Hospital, an institution which our volunteers have served since 1905,” said Sherri McCullough, President, Volunteer Services. “We ask those who believe in building a stronger health care future for our community to support the redevelopment of our university hospitals of Kingston.”

The redevelopment plans of the university hospitals of Kingston include projects across all three institutions. The KGH component is expected to begin in 2008 with the expansion of the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario and construction of a new Inpatient Mental Health Unit. Other KGH components include redevelopment of Central Processing Services (which provides sterilization support to operating rooms), the relocation of the Pediatric Inpatient Unit, expansion of the Intensive Care Unit and medical/surgical inpatient capacity and expansion of the Dialysis Program. The Providence Continuing Care Centre component includes construction of a brand new hospital to replace PCCC’s St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital and Mental Health Services sites.

University Hospitals Kingston Foundation celebrated its first anniversary in October. In the last year, some $4 million from almost 13,000 donors has been raised for patient care, new equipment and research. The Foundation raises money for programs, equipment, education and research that benefit the 500,000 people in Kingston and Southeastern Ontario served by its three teaching hospitals.

To find out more about giving opportunities or to make a donation go online to www.uhkf.ca or call 613-549-5452.

Contact:
University Hospitals Kingston Foundation
John Suart
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Phone: (613) 549-5452 Ext. 5908
Mobile: (613) 583-3062
Email: john.suart@uhkf.ca