September 20, 2007/- Recent reports have said the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation will be asking the City of Kingston for $10 million for its redevelopment campaign. The Foundation wishes to clarify this issue.

The Foundation has been asked informally whether $10 million is enough to meet the needs in our community. The Province will pay for 90% of the costs of construction of eligible redevelopment projects, the community must pay the remaining 10% plus the cost of equipment. At this moment the community portion has not been determined, but it will likely amount to more than $50 million depending on a number of factors.

The Foundation is planning to ask all local governments in Southeastern Ontario to support the redevelopment of the university hospitals of Kingston – Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care. The redevelopment plan will be the biggest change in health care in this region in a generation.

The Foundation will have a final number for its ask to City Council October 2nd, which will likely be in the range of $2.00-to-$3.00 per month, per household per year over a number of years.

Regional municipalities in places such as Peterborough, Windsor and Sarnia have contributed to their hospital redevelopment campaigns in the past in the range of $20 million to $30 million. The Foundation will be looking to our local governments to send a similarly strong message that they’re behind the redevelopment of our hospitals.

The Foundation will be using a “fair share” formula to determine how much it will seek from local governments. This takes into account patient usage, the development fees hospital construction projects will generate, the economic impact of our hospitals on specific communities and other factors.

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.