Wednesday June 23, 2021 | SALT SPRING ISLAND, BC [Updated 3 pm on June 24, 2021]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
Amidst the continuing flurry of news about COVID and economic recovery comes news of another significant health care facility expansion in the region. There have been several hospital improvement announcements and openings of Urgent and Primary Care Centres in BC under the current government. This initiative through Island Health is on Salt Spring island.
Announced today by Island Health, a $10.4 million expansion project will bring improvements to emergency department patient care and privacy at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. Capital costs for the project are being shared by the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, which has pledged $7.4 million (fundraising is still in the works) and the Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD), which will contribute $3 million.
“We know that upgrades are needed to allow Lady Minto Hospital and its dedicated staff to continue to provide high quality care for Salt Spring Island residents,” said Minister of Health Adrian Dix in a news release through Island Health today. “This project will greatly enhance patient-centered care for this region, providing patient privacy and the opportunity to provide more specialized treatment including for mental health and substance use.”
The population of Salt Spring Island has reached 11,000 people. When the current Lady Minto Hospital opened its doors in 1958, about 2,000 people lived on Salt Spring Island.
“Island Health is grateful the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation and the CRHD have committed to funding this important expansion at Lady Minto Hospital,” said Leah Hollins, who has been the Island Health board chair since 2017.
“This project will help support excellent healthcare for Salt Spring Island residents for years to come,” said Hollins in today’s release.
Larger facility, enhanced services:
The project involves construction of a new 420 sq m (4,500 sq ft) emergency department that will double the number of acute and primary care patients that can be treated at one time, a mental health and substance use treatment room, a medication area, dedicated triage desk, nursing/team care station with sight lines to all assessment and treatment areas, ambulance bay, decontamination site, accessible washrooms, and expanded patient and family waiting area.
In support of a culturally safe space, design elements of the project may incorporate Indigenous influences into artwork, furniture, fixtures and equipment to ensure spaces are welcoming to everyone who seeks medical care.
Fundraising efforts:
“The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation is delighted that this much needed expansion to the hospital is going ahead,” said Dave Taylor, Chair, Lady Minto Hospital Foundation. “The community has generously donated over the years and responded enthusiastically to the recent Emergency Department Redevelopment campaign to make this project a reality.” The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to raising funds which enhance services and facilities of Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island.
Lady Minto Hospital Foundation Vice-Chair Dr Humberto Martinho outlines that fundraising remains actively underway:
- Total project cost: $10.4 million
- CRHD contribution: $3 million (Capital Regional Hospital District funding)
- Lady Minto Foundation: $1.5 million (from our reserves)
- Donated or pledged to date: $4 million (quiet phase of the Capital Campaign)
- Community campaign target: $2 million (public phase of the Capital Campaign)
The ‘quiet phase’ of the campaign — in which potential major gift donors are identified and approached for funding before going public with the campaign — began in February 2021.
The foundation is now launching the community (public) phase of their capital campaign to raise the remaining funds. They offer the opportunity for every Islander to feel a connection to this new Emergency Department. This phase will continue over the next three months.
Donations have come from a wide range of the community on Salt Spring Island. From local businesses to individuals and other Foundations on the Island in amounts ranging from $50 to $1 million. Local businesses and individuals are approached through targeted advertising, says Dr Martinho.
Foundation background:
The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation was established in 1992 as a registered charity dedicated to raising funds which enhance services and facilities at the Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. Over the years Islanders have provided funds for major equipment. The Foundation also helps fund continuing medical education for hospital staff as well as helping to fund services at the Extended Care Unit of the hospital.
The current capital campaign specifically targets the raising of funds to build a much needed new modern emergency department to meet the growing needs of Salt Spring Islanders.
After this campaign, the foundation continue to raise the funds to support long term preservation of quality health care on the island while providing medical professionals with the tools they need to do their job.
CRD’s role in capital funding for hospitals:
“The Capital Regional Hospital District is excited to provide capital funding to the Lady Minto Hospital emergency department redevelopment,” said Gary Holman, Capital Regional District Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director. “This project has been in our capital plan for some time and we are pleased to see the facility will be upgraded to better meet the needs of Salt Spring Island.”
When it comes to capital projects, the Capital Regional District (CRD) plans capital contributions out five years, says Andy Orr, CRD Senior Manager, Corporate Communications. For the financing of Island Health hospitals, the project can proceed when funding is ready by the local hospital foundation and the province, explains Orr. CRD provides a local share on agreed-to projects, and the hospital foundation “funds as they can”. Sometimes new projects come up and become higher priorities, Orr adds.
