March 27, 2007/- The Canadian Cancer Society is donating $500,000 to support the redevelopment of the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario at Kingston General Hospital. The gift to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation – the fundraising arm of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Continuing Care Centre – will have a major impact on the delivery of cancer care in the region.

“We welcome the contributions of the Canadian Cancer Society to the redevelopment and expansion of our cancer centre,” said Roger Wright, Chair of the Foundation. “There has never has been such a need for improved cancer treatment facilities in our region. This year, someone in Ontario will be diagnosed with cancer every eight minutes. Ten years from now, it will be every six minutes. The Canadian Cancer Society’s gift will help ensure our cancer centre is ready to support these patients when the diagnosis is made.”

From Cobourg to Prescott and Kingston to Bancroft, the cancer centre is the hub for Southeastern Ontario’s regional cancer program. It provides comprehensive in-patient and diagnostic services at Kingston General Hospital and outpatient cancer care across the region. The cancer centre conducts leading research, such as drug and other clinical trials as well as health services and physics research. Through its connections to Queen’s University and other institutions, it is also a regional education centre for medical and radiation oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, radiation therapists, dietitians and others.

“We are proud to make this contribution that helps support our mission to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families in Southeastern Ontario, " says Richard Loomes, President, Ontario East Region, Canadian Cancer Society. "It's thanks to the generosity and commitment of donors, volunteers and supporters in this community that we are able to make this contribution as well as provide ongoing services such as transportation, peer support and volunteer programs at the cancer centre and Quinte Thousand Islands Lodge to cancer patients in Southeastern Ontario."

Each year, more than 75,000 patient visits take place in the cancer centre. This number is growing annually. Within the next 10 years, the number of visits per year is projected to be 105,000. The centre sees 3,500 new patients a year.

“We’re very pleased to have the Canadian Cancer Society’s support for our plans for redevelopment. Our cancer centre accommodates more than three times the number of patients than were seen when it first opened in 1977, but the size of the facility has remained virtually the same in the 30 years that have passed,” said Bill Hart, Senior VP Corporate Services at KGH.

Under the redevelopment plan, the cancer centre will double in size. The hospital wing in which it is located will be renovated and expanded. The centre will be re-oriented with a new entrance on King Street. Two new radiation bunkers, CT scanner and a brachytherapy unit will be added as well as chemotherapy, pediatric, palliative and supportive care space.

Redevelopment will involve projects at all three hospitals – Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Continuing Care Centre. The KGH component is expected to begin in 2008 with the expansion of the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, construction of a new Inpatient Mental Health Unit and expansion of the Dialysis Program. Other KGH components include redevelopment of Central Processing Services (which provides sterilization support to operating rooms), the relocation of the Pediatric Inpatient Unit, and expansion of the Intensive Care Unit and medical/surgical inpatient capacity.

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1-888 939-3333.

University Hospitals Kingston Foundation is the fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Continuing Care Centre. It 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.kingstonhospitalsfoundation.ca, call 613-549-5452 or toll-free 866-549-5452.

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