Hub Staff

The Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation received a welcome $5,000 donation on Tuesday from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 155, Southampton toward the new emergency room and laboratory expansion, construction for which is due to commence this spring.

Legion President, Marilyn Noble said that the donation comes from their raffle account, which is comprised of funds from monthly raffles, 50/50 draws and meat rolls, funds designated to go back to the community.

Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation Executive Director, Sally Kidson said what the Legion does for the community is “just incredible.”

“We just really appreciate that our name comes up on (the legion’s) list,” said Kidson.

The hospital expansion will mean three and a half times more space in the emergency room with 12 new rooms, nine treatment rooms, two ambulatory care rooms and a dedicated decontamination room. The expansion will also result in the laboratory becoming larger than the current facilities. The project is said to take 18 to 24 months to complete and the total cost is estimated at $10 million with the government contributing 90 percent, leaving 10 percent to be raised locally.

Kidson said that their campaign goal of $2.9 million includes $1 million toward the hospital build, $800,000 toward equipment and the remainder to the new oncology suite in Owen Sound. “We're at $2.3 million of our campaign goal,” she said. “The goal is $2.9 million but there's always a contingency for some extra things that might come up. We’re hoping to top that and have a little extra in case something happens. We're doing really well.”

Kidson said that they should know fairly soon about the tender awards. “They have been sent to the Ministry and so we should know within a couple of weeks.” Kidson added that internal shuffling of staff and departments in the hospital is already underway, ready for the new build to start and that signage will be in place so that patients know where to go when they come. “It's really nice to see some concrete things happening and know that we’re moving forward and that we’re going to get started,” she said.

“We’re very fortunate to have such a facility,” said Kidson. “We have a very generous community.”