Hospital starts money search
CEO, board chair explain healthcare plans and financial needs to county council
The Jeff and Carrie Show Us the Money roadshow kicked off in Cobourg on Tuesday morning. But in typical Canadian fashion, they didn’t actually ask for money. Yet.
That would be Jeff Hohenkerk, President and CEO, and Carrie Hayward, Chair, of Campbellford Memorial Hospital.
The pair made a presentation to Northumberland County Council’s Community Health Committee about plans for our new Campus of Care on the northwest corner of Campbellford.
They set out the current situation; planning is getting underway; and the hoped future – a $400 million new hospital, with the local share of the cost being 10 per cent or $40 million; and $45 million, or more, on furnishings and medical equipment, all paid for locally.
If you’re doing the math that’s $85 million, and likely more, expected to come from area residents and municipalities. That’s what’s known in the fundraising business as a big ask.
On Tuesday, Hohenkerk and Hayward were formally introducing the project, touting its many benefits and quietly warning they will want money.
Next week, Hohenkerk and Hayward will meet with Trent Hills council to make the same case. At this point they are outlining the needs, asking councils to think about how they can help and alerting the politicians that they will be back sooner rather than later for commitments.
The province provided a $2.5 million planning grant last May to get the process officially started. This year the plan is to get severances and zoning changes for the 48-acre site that was donated by Jim Curle and to begin studying area healthcare needs over the next 50 to 70 years to determine exactly what should be built.
Hohenkerk said the hospital has recently hired HDR Inc. an Omaha, Nebraska,-based engineering company that has offices around the world including a dozen in Canada to assess community needs.
Committee Chair Olena Hankivsky, who is Mayor of Port Hope, wanted to know more about how a new Campbellford Memorial would work with Northumberland Hills and Peterborough Regional.
Hayward said one possibility is that Campbellford would focus on complex geriatric care, something our area desperately needs.
“We have the second lowest number of beds for this service in the province,” Hayward said. Providing this service in Campbellford would allow other hospitals to send some patients here relieving pressure on them.
Hohenkerk also stressed that the Campus of Care plan could include supportive housing for seniors, which the county also needs.
In addition, he said that Omni Quality Living, which currently operates Burnbrae Gardens, has provincial approval for a new 128-bed long-term care facility and expects to receive the okay to actually build a 256-bed facility.
“You should go talk to the people working on the Golden Plough Lodge project to find out what not to do,” suggested Hankivisky. Construction of the new, larger lodge has gone $29 million over budget, a 25 per cent hike.
The presentation says Trent Hills will have to extend its water mains about 300 metres and its sewer lines 600 metres in order to services the new site. The municipality is looking at what is needed and what it will cost. The county will also have to provide new turn lanes and probably lights for the entrance on County Road 30 to the site.
Hohenkerk said that the hospital must show it has the ability to finance the local share contribution before it can progress to architectural design and engineering. That means the hospital foundation, which is the chief fundraiser, has about two years to demonstrate that the area can come up with its $85 million share.
If all goes smoothly, the new hospital could be ready by 2031-2033. The long-term care home could be built sooner since less planning is needed. The province has a template for 256-bed facilities and no real need to modify it for local changes.
Hankivsky and Hohenkerk agreed that given the possibility of a huge nuclear generating station being constructed in Port Hope the county needs to be prepared for a larger than currently projected increase in population.
Trent Hills is now expected to grow by 25 per cent by 2051 with an aging population, but that could change dramatically.
Trent Hills represents about 50 per cent of the population in the hospital’s catchment area, but generates only 35 per cent of emergency visits and 42 per cent of inpatient stays. Residents of Havelock/Belmont and Marmora together account for 20 per cent of emergency visits and 26 per cent of inpatient stays. Those municipalities are sure to be visited soon by Hohenkerk and Hayward.
You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.
Ontario's per capita spending on hospitals is near the bottom of provinces.
I think taxes should pay for all the hospital needs, not charity from rich folks who want their names on buildings.
Here's a question: as one of the highest taxed nations, why are we asking for money for healthcare infrastructure from outside of the tax coffers? Haven't we always been told we have some of the bear healthcare services available? Haven't we always been told that our healthcare is "free" and "universal".
Seems to me somewhere we're being lied to.