Increased fundraising goal for Wingham hospital's new CT scanner

More funds will need to be raised to cover the cost of a new CT scanner for the Wingham hospital.
The Wingham & District Hospital (WDH) Foundation announced an increased fundraising goal of $3.6 million, up from $2.5 million, for its Caring Together campaign in an Aug. 14 news release.
According to the release, the targeted dollar amount was based on preliminary estimates and, as the project progressed, it became clear that actual costs would amount to more than anticipated.
“The hospital engaged in a robust RFP process and received multiple quotes from several different vendors and contractors. All the quotes for the renovation work were significantly higher than the earlier estimates. Factors include inflation, increased costs due to the age of the building and extensive structure support required to accommodate the machinery. After careful consideration and strong negotiations, the project team was able to reduce costs with the selected vendor, yet the final cost is still above the original funding target,” the release said.
Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance CFO Becky Bloemberg explained that “rising costs are a reality across the province and across industries. Hospitals are not exempt. We carefully considered where costs could be trimmed and where corners should not be cut. We are proud of our project team for coming to reasonable terms with the supplier and are incredibly grateful to the Foundation for their renewed efforts to meet the increased need for funding.”
Nicole Duquette, foundation executive director, said the support from the community has been outstanding so far and she has every confidence the new target will be reached.
“The generosity of many families and businesses have helped us reach and exceed the $2.5 million mark. Along the way I’ve heard many people speak of seeking CT care elsewhere and how important it is to make this service available in Wingham. I’m hopeful the community will rise to the occasion of this increased fundraising goal,” Duquette said.
Currently, the Caring Together campaign has achieved 87 per cent of the new $3.6-million goal. To learn more about the benefits of a CT scanner and to donate, visit www.wdhfoundation.ca/ct-campaign. Read More