News Archive > March 2nd, 2004: Grant helps fund bed replacement at KDH
Kemptville District Hospital
2675 Concession Road, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
Tel: (613) 258-6133; Fax: (613) 258-7853
March 2, 2004
Grant helps fund bed replacement at KDH
Kemptville District Hospital will replace 15 outdated beds thanks to a special $200,000 provincial grant announced recently.
Replacement of beds is the highest priority to be addressed by this allocation from Ontario's Diagnostic/Medical Equipment Fund, said KDH Executive Director Lynne Budgell.
"Several years ago we embarked on a program to replace two of the old beds each year with electric beds," said Ms. Budgell. "Our own program coupled with a generous donation from the Royal Canadian Legion has allowed us to replace 22 of our 40 beds so far."
Fifteen additional beds will leave only three in need of replacement. The new electric beds allow patients to raise or lower the beds themselves for maximum comfort at the touch of a button. "They don't have to wait for hospital staff to come and crank the bed to the desired position," noted Ms. Budgell.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 212 Past President Doug Brunton said there is "a difference of night and day" between the old beds and the new electric beds. A stay at the hospital a year and a half ago gave Mr. Brunton first-hand knowledge that the new beds are "much more comfortable."
The grant also allows the hospital to acquire a number of other items of patient care equipment including a new anaesthetic machine for the operating room at a cost of $18,000; two vital signs monitors costing a total of $7,660; and two new medication carts worth $6,800.
The Kemptville District Hospital Foundation has also pledged to raise the necessary funds to purchase a monitor-defibrillator for the hospital's emergency department at a cost of approximately $15,000.
The Ontario government recently announced a total of $193 million in grants to public hospitals and Cancer Care Ontario for purchase enhanced diagnostic, medical and patient safety equipment.
For more information contact:
Lynne Budgell
(613) 258-6133 ext. 132