As the need for priority medical equipment never stops, Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is grateful for another donation from the Royal Canadian Legion in Wellington.

Ken MacMillan on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 Poppy Fund Committee presented members of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation with a gift of $2,000 on Monday, September 13. The funds were raised through the 2020 poppy fund campaign.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is charged with raising over $374,000 for equipment this year. Of that, $184,931 has been designated for the purchase of a new ultrasound machine.

Last year, 2,234 patients required use of the ultrasound machine at Quinte Health Care Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (QHC PECMH). The current machine is three years past its recommended lifespan. The image quality is diminishing and parts are becoming difficult to source. The new ultrasound machine will cost $184,931. Because priority equipment purchases are not government funded, we are counting on the Royal Canadian Legion to help ensure ultrasound services remain close by should veterans need them now or in the future.

The Legion’s $2,000 gift will help bring this vital piece of diagnostic imaging equipment to our County hospital. The Legion also gave $2,500 in January toward the purchase of a SMART bed.

 “We are especially grateful to the Poppy Fund Committee for this gift that will go towards the purchase of an ultrasound machine. Our doctors will use it to provide the patients requiring the use of ultrasound with proper diagnosis,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “It’s vital for our community to continue to ensure our County hospital is equipped with the latest technology to keep our patients healthy. We are also proud to announce that, with this gift, Branch 160’s cumulative giving total to our hospital over the past 19 years has surpassed $12,000.”

In addition to the ultrasound machine, PECM Hospital is in need of a cardiac monitor and a defibrillator for the Endoscopy Department as well as a new Point of Care machine for the Emergency Department. The Point of Care machine will allow physicians and the medical staff to accurately achieve real-time, lab-quality diagnostic results within minutes rather than hours.

“Our mission is to advance health care to our patients, and it is only through the support of our community that we can help ensure veterans receive the care they need and are treated with the respect they have earned,” said Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the PECMH Foundation. “Over the years, our four local Legion branches, Picton, Wellington, Consecon and Deseronto have contributed to exceptional care at QHC PECMH. We are pleased to know their contributions and those of Provincial Command are not only helping ensure the best care for veterans, but for every one in Prince Edward County.”

Each November, we respectfully wear our poppies in tribute to those who have fought and died for our country, but many of us may not fully realize the direct impact these four-petaled flowers have on our community. While the primary purpose of the Poppy Fund is to provide assistance to former servicemen and women in need, a large portion of the funds raised in Prince Edward County help support charitable organizations in our community that provide service and care to veterans.

“Through your donations to the Legion Poppy Fund, the Legion provides financial assistance and support to veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families who are in need,” said Ken MacMillan, chairperson of Branch 160’s Poppy Fund. “We are thankful to everyone who supports the poppy campaign and the Legion. Because of you, the Legion is able to help others living in this community, including patients at the hospital have access to leading edge diagnostic equipment.”

Thanks to strong partnerships with the various levels of Legion governance, the PECMH Foundation has on several occasions been the beneficiary of such funding. In the last 16 years, the Foundation has been the recipient of $115,675 in donations from local Legion branches, Ladies Auxiliaries and the Provincial Command Charitable Foundation. These donated funds come largely through poppy fund sales.

“Community support is so important because the government does not fund medical equipment. It is the responsibility of PECM Hospital Foundation, through the generosity of our donors, organizations and community partners, like the Royal Canadian Legion, that we can meet our obligation to purchase vital medical equipment needed across our region. This enables our caregivers to continue to deliver great care, close to home,” said Coull.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.