Last year, County residents and visitors visited our hospital over 43,000 times for their care. This reminds me how important it is to have access to a hospital close to home.

Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) and other hospitals within the Quinte Health team are facing difficult situations. Our emergency department continues to see high volumes of patients, many of whom are admitted with serious and complex illnesses.

The reasons for this are plenty - more elderly patients with age-related complex health issues, an increased number of patients without a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) and delayed care resulting in more advanced medical issues. Discharging patients from the hospital is also challenging, given the strain on our home care and long-term care partners. 

Quinte Health is making the public aware of the hospital’s circumstances through media and social media, including asking for their patience, support and respect toward our team members. Many of us feel PECMH is the best place to access care, but you should be prepared to wait if you need to visit the hospital.

The emergency departments at Quinte Health are experiencing high volumes of patients. This significantly impacts wait times, particularly for those experiencing non-emergency health issues. Learn more about non-emergency care options, including virtual care, at https://quintehealth.ca/care-service/emergency-department/know-where-to-go/.

Patients are cared for in the emergency department based on how sick or injured they are, not when they arrive. The ‘seen and wait’ time varies depending on how serious the conditions are for other patients coming into the ER.

Our teams are doing their best to care for our patients and each other.

When speaking to the Care Champions at our hospital, a common thread is they take pride in providing exceptional care to their patients.

I thank our Care Champions for their hard work and resilience amid these trying times. It has been a difficult and stressful time for many of my colleagues working extra shifts or covering for staff members who are off. Though some days feel uncertain, these incredible people are making every effort to strengthen healthcare in our community.

Despite our hospital being busy and increasing pressure on staff, what hasn’t changed is the compassion, commitment, and empathy our healthcare professionals have for each one of us. All of us in the foundation are genuinely grateful that they continue to show up every day to care for the members of our community, and we are inspired more than ever to continue to ensure they are provided with the best environment to work.

This is how donors make a difference.

Recognizing a Care Champion with a gift to the foundation lets them know you value and support their vital role in your life and the well-being of our community. 

A gift of gratitude provides a spark of energy to the recipient. It also inspires anyone who hears the story.

Our Care Champion program purchases lifesaving equipment. Your donation also helps to build a new hospital in Prince Edward County.

The best part of nominating a Care Champion is that those who contribute do so with joy and with open hearts. The nominators are patients and family members who appreciate our caregivers' care.

We sincerely appreciate every donor giving a gift of any size or reason. Your support ensures our hospital has the resources to deliver the high-quality care PECMH is known for.

When a Care Champion is nominated, we will let them know a gift was made in their honour by presenting them with a certificate of recognition. When appropriate, we will share those stories on our social media channels. We will never disclose the gift amount or publish personal stories without your consent.

We invite you to consider nominating a Care Champion. Sharing your gratitude encourages others to donate and step forward with their story. The power of giving is multiplied with each expression of gratitude, and our caregivers are so grateful to receive them.

The community has supported this impressive hospital for close to 106 years! Countless individuals and businesses have stepped up to support PECMH in challenging times, and today is no different. Your dedication, loyalty, and generosity have been humbling and have remained true, especially during these challenging times.

To our Care Champions, please know we could not be more thankful for the incredible difference you’re making in the lives of many as we aspire to create healthier communities together.

For information about our hospital or to recognize a Care Champion, call 613 476 1008 ext. 4502, or visit www.pecmhf.ca.