The Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) Foundation was hoping Santa might bring a new CT (computerized tomography) scanner this year.
However, in lieu of the man in red bringing the much-needed equipment to its door, the foundation has launched its annual Tree of Life campaign to raise $1 million to purchase the scanner, with four of CGMH’s front-line workers serving as the faces of the campaign.
“The need has grown. Plus, our community has grown. All these factors (mean) we just desperately need this scanner,” said Alison Smith, marketing and communications co-ordinator for the foundation.
To purchase the scanner, the foundation needs to raise $2.15 million in total, but fundraising has already begun with about $500,000 raised to date. The goal for the Tree of Life campaign is $1 million, with other fundraisers planned in the future to cross the finish line of the total goal.
The campaign kicked off Nov. 12 and runs until Dec. 31. Every year, the hospital provides the foundation with a list of capital needs, and one is chosen to be the recipient of the Tree of Life campaign. Ninety per cent of equipment and technology for CGMH is funded through donations.
“The biggest piece of equipment on the list this year was the CT scanner,” said Maria Borges, campaign organizer.
The current CT scanner at CGMH was purchased more than 10 years ago and, at that time, it was expected to do 6,500 scans.
“We’re now over 11,000,” said Smith, adding it now has been nicknamed “the workhorse.”
CGMH estimates it has about 1,000 requests for CT diagnoses every month and, since 2017, the hospital has seen wait times for a CT scan grow by 30 per cent due to the increased demand as well as an increase in maintenance and repairs.
“It’s doing double what it should be doing. Because it’s so old and had been working so hard, it’s breaking down a lot now. When it breaks down, all the people who were lined up for a scan that day aren’t going to be scanned,” said Smith.
A delay in getting a proper CT scan can also trickle down to patients having to wait longer for a diagnosis, and then longer for treatment.
This year’s campaign features photos by local photographer Jess Crandlemire of CGMH chief of staff Michael Lisi, chief of surgery Olivia Cheng, nurse Dickon Worsley and diagnostic imaging technician Connie Denbok.
“We feel, in general, people are really ready to move on from the pandemic. The reality is our staff is overworked and our hospital is burdened. They can’t get a break from it. With so many respiratory viruses coming through the hospital, they’re just doing everything they can,” said Smith.
“It was important to really put them at the centre. It’s really them and the importance of supporting them.”
“This campaign is all about rallying the community,” added Borges.
Donations to the Tree of Life campaign will come with a tax receipt. For more information or to donate, click here.
