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SECTION TWO Wednesday, May 13,1992 We Asked and You Said 2 Insight on Small Business 5 Community Correspondence 6-10 After 12 years and over $21 million million dollars, the dream of expanding and renovating Memorial Hospital has come true. On Saturday, May 9, the hospital celebrated die completion of the redevelopment redevelopment project with an official opening. Provincial Health Minister Frances Frances Lankin proclaimed die hospital officially open. But first, she congratulated congratulated Memorial Hospital for developing a facility which is in tune with the community it serves. "It's a tribute to a hospital that knows what the meaning of community community is," she told guests at the opening opening ceremonies which took place at the entrance to the new three-storey cast wing. "We believe the national health care system is worth preserving and we believe in doing it together with you," Ms. Lanken added. Memorial Hospital was founded 80 years ago with a capacity of just 18 beds. The modernization and construction construction program has given the hospital a current capacity of 121 beds. And, subject to additional government funding, a maximum of 135 beds can be provided. The updated facilities boast $2.7 million worth of new equipment in cluding a diagnostic imaging x-ray unit, new dietary equipment and new anaesthetic equipment. In her remarks, the health minister minister pointed out that die hospital has a state-of-the-art, $125,OCK) x-ray machine in the emergency department's department's trauma room. It's the first of its kind in Canada. State of the Art Equipment Part Of Renovations To Hospital in Bowmanville The machine operates by remote control and can travel on rails attached attached to the'ceiling to any of the four beds in the trauma room. This allows patients to be x-rayed without without being moved to another part of the building. Memorial Hospital President Richard Elston paid tribute to the team effort which resulted in the successful completion of the hospital hospital project. He thanked hospital staff, volunteers, fund-raisers, hospi tal foundation members, hospital board members, local residents and. businesses for their assistance. "To these team players, we owe a debt of gratitude," he said. Other speakers at the opening ceremony included Dr. Arthur West- garth, Chief of Staff; Dennis Tim- brell, president of the Ontario Hospital Hospital Association; John O'Toole, Local Councillor for Ward Two; Gary Herrema, Regional Chairman; and Gord Mills, MPP for Durham East. Rev. Charles T. Fennema delivered delivered the invocation. Gordon Willis, chairperson of the hospital board of directors, welcomed welcomed the guests and Rex Walters, Vice Chairperson of the Hospital Foundation, discussed the capital campaign. Mr. Walters pointed out that although although the hospital has completed an extensive re-building program, the improvement of hospital facilities facilities is an ongoing process. "There is never a point in time where we can sit.baçk and put our feet up and say nothing remains to be done," lie said. Mr. Walters said Memorial Hospital Hospital hopes to acquire new equipment equipment valued at about $4 million over the next five years. The hospital facilities have $2.7 million worth of new equipment. In this photo, Gordon Willis, chairman chairman of the hospital board and Marion Tink, nurse-manager for the emergency and special care department, department, are shown with an x-ray unit used in the hospital's trauma room. The x-ray machine is a Siemens Mobilett-XT. It operates by remote control and rolls on tracks mounted on the ceiling. In this way, it can be moved to any of the four beds within the unit, enabling staff to x-ray patients without transporting them to another part of the hospital. The machine is the first of its kind to be installed in Canada. Ribbon Cutting Opens $ 21 Million Expansion \ . . Open for business! The Honorable Frances Lankin, Minister of dents' Council; Rex Walters, Vice Chairperson of the Hospital Foun- Hcaltli for Ontario, snips tire ribbon to officially launch the $21 mil- dation; Richard Elston, President of Memorial Hospital; Frances lion Memorial Hospital expansion and renovation project. Shown Larkin; Gordon Willis, Chairperson of the Hospital Board; and Bill from left are: Kay Cain, President of the Memorial Hospital Resi- Barraball, Treasurer of the Residents' Council. Bob Kent, who was bom in the original Memorial Hospital building, building, had tire honor of cutting the cake at the reception following the official opening of Memorial Hospital on Saturday. Mr. Kent is also a lifelong member of the Lions Club which is among the many contributors contributors to Memorial Hospital. In addition, Mr. Kent is a subscriber to the Lifeline Program which operates out of Memorial Hospital and has been funded by the Lions Club, Photos and Story by Peter Parrott l J I / One of the highlights of the hospital opening on the weekend was the opportunity to tour the new facility. facility. The group shown above is admiring the second floor patio which is-enjoyed by residents on sunny sunny days. Dennis Timbrcll, President of the Ontario Hospital Association, brings greetings. Mr. Timbrcll was the Minister of Health for Ontario when the hospital's expansion expansion plans were first introduced introduced about 12 years ago. Mr. Timbrcll told tire guests that he always cited Memorial Hospital as an example of a well-run community community hospital. Durham East MPP Gord Mills introduced Health Minister Frances Lankin to tire guests attending the hospital opening. The health minister minister and Mr. Mills arc shown above as the minister fields questions from the media in attendance.