Love, One Bear at a TIme

The Winchester District Memorial Hospital Wish Tree has been officially lit, and the Hospital Foundation hopes that the spirit of giving in the community will be strong this holiday season. 

Last year gifts totalling over $49,000 were given in support of high priority needs at the hospital. To date, more than $30,000 has already been donated, with a deadline of December 31 about two weeks away. 

This year, 23 students from Morrisburg Public School attended the official Wish Tree lighting ceremony on Tuesday, December 11, in the main lobby of the hospital. 

Two MPS students, Cameryn Broad and Kristyn VanHoof, were given the honour, with Troy Cross, executive director of the WDMH Foundation, of throwing the switch to light the tree.

The Morrisburg students, with teacher Sarah Barclay-Thomas, had earlier delivered close to 400 hand made Christmas cards to the hospital, intended for patients who might have to spend Christmas in hospital care. 

“We also brought Christmas jingle bells, paper snowflakes, Christmas ornaments and special art work with us,” teacher Barclay-Thomas said. “Morrisburg Public School does not have a large population, so many of our students, from kindergarten to grade six, created more than one special card. We wanted to be sure that every patient was remembered. We look forward to coming to Winchester at this time of year, to sing, visit patients and present our cards to them.”

Accompanied by Joanne Sidorchuk, manager CCCU Rehab and Diagnostics, the students visited several floors of the hospital before the tree lighting ceremony. One of the highlights of their visit was the ability to deliver “welcome to the world” cards, especially designed for babies, to day old Kaley Kelly and her parents, Corinne and Chris.

Then the students joined hospital officials and guests in the lobby, where the Village Voyces choir performed songs of the season.

 “This Wish Tree is a symbol of the light our loved ones and caregivers have brought into our lives,” said Troy Cross. “Many, many people have touched our lives and this Tree represents them. 

Everyone recognized on this tree has given a gift to the hospital, recognizing a loved one who has passed, a friend or a member of our staff. The gifts we receive at this time serve our hospital not just in this season but also onward. 

And it is a real pleasure to see Morrisburg Public School students with us, touring our hospital to sing and give cards to our patients.”

This year, several hundred generous donors have given their support to the Wish Tree campaign. In the past, Scotiabank (whose seven branches support the campaign), was the sole matching partner of the Wish Tree program. This year Scotiabank will be joined by new sponsors Dan R Equipment, MacEwen Petroleum, Riveredge Farms and Russell Meadows Retirement Community.

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According to Winchester District Memorial Hospital spokesperson, Jane Petricic it is unclear how an announcement made Monday, concerning changes to Ontario’s method of funding hospitals, will impact the local hospital.

“At this time, we don’t know anything more than is in the announcement,” said Petricic, Brainstorm Communications for WDMH. “We’re still awaiting additional details.”

According to Monday’s press release issued by the office of Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty, “Ontario is making changes to the way it funds hospitals to ensure families get access to the right health care, at the right time and in the right place.”

The new patient-based funding model will see hospitals funded based on how many patients they see, the services they deliver, the quality of those services and other specific community needs. Currently, hospitals get a lump sum based on their previous year’s budget with no link to the type or quality of care they provide.

Working in partnership with hospitals, Ontario will phase in the new patient-based funding model over the next three years. 

The new model will also provide a better return for taxpayer dollars and result in: shorter wait times and better access to care in their communities; more services, where they are needed; and, better quality care with less variation between hospitals.

Allowing health care funding to follow the patient instead of the hospital is part of the McGuinty government’s Action Plan for Health Care and builds upon the significant progress that has been made in improving Ontario’s health care system since 2003. 

According to Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, “our current funding model for hospitals is out of date and doesn’t reflect the needs of the communities they serve.  As part of our Action Plan we are implementing a system that funds hospitals to increase services where needed, deliver quality care more efficiently and serve more patients.”

March Rochon,  Interim CEO for the Ontario Hospital Association, said, “the Ontario Hospital Association has been a long-time supporter of patient-based payment because it has tremendous potential to align hospital funding with positive patient outcomes.”  

While 91 hospitals are transitioning to the patient-based funding model, 55 small hospitals will be excluded from the new model to recognize the unique role they play within their communities. 

Winchester District Memorial Hospital is not among the list of 55 hospitals excluded from the new model.

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MORRISBURG – On June 25, SD&G OPP announced charges in relation to the June 7-8 vandalism that destroyed and defaced memorial trees and benches, and more, in the Morrisburg waterfront park. “Three young people were […]