Oct. 25, 2007/- The campaign to redevelop the university hospitals of Kingston passed a major milestone Thursday when the County of Hastings pledged $654,000 to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. Hastings is the second municipality to declare its support for redevelopment – the most important change in health care in Southeastern Ontario in a generation.

“We’re very pleased with the announcement by the County of Hastings. Their wisdom and leadership on creating a better health care future for all of the people of Southeastern Ontario is very much welcome. We sincerely hope that other local governments will follow the example of Hastings in supporting the redevelopment of our hospitals,” said Denise Cumming, Executive Director of the Foundation – the fundraising arm of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care.

The pledge by the County of Hastings translates into $4.24 per household per year over a 10 year period. The pledge will be directed to three projects – the expansion of the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, the Intensive Care Unit and Medical and Surgical Beds at Kingston General Hospital.

“The representatives from the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation made an excellent case to County Council for support and with nearly 11,000 patient visits last year alone from the residents of our County we recognized the essential connections with the health of the Kingston hospitals and the health of our residents,” said Terry Clemens, Hastings County Council Warden. “These important health services require support and we hope that our Council’s contribution will help speed the rejuvenation of the hospitals.”

Together, the university hospitals of Kingston support more than 450,000 patient visits each year. Nearly half of the patients served by the Kingston hospitals reside outside of the City of Kingston.

The Province has committed to pay for 90 per cent of eligible construction costs for redevelopment projects. The community is expected to contribute the remaining 10% of the costs, as well as covering the entire cost of the equipment required. The community portion, known as the “local share”, will likely amount to an estimated $50 million or more.

The Foundation is looking for a total of $25 million in support from area municipalities. The Township of Rideau Lakes made a pledge to hospital redevelopment in 2006. Other municipalities have already been approached, including Kingston, Gananoque, Leeds and the Thousand Islands and Lennox and Addington.

On October 2nd, the Foundation made a request for support from the City of Kingston. The Foundation requested a $10 million pledge, which translates into $20.46 per household per year if the pledge is spread over a 10 year period. The City was also asked for a grant equivalent to 50 per cent of the taxes 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.