Wingham Hospital Foundation reaches goal for new CT scanner

The Wingham and District Hospital Foundation’s “Caring Together” campaign has successfully achieved its goal of raising $3.6-million for a new CT scanner.

The campaign began in late 2023 with the goal of raising $2.5-million for both the medical device and the required facility renovations to accommodate the machine. Due to inflation, the age of the building and the extensive structural support needed, that goal was raised to $3.6-million in the summer of 2024. Thanks to the generous contributions of many local businesses, families and estate gifts, the increased goal has been achieved.

The campaign started out strong with a lead gift of $1-million from Britespan Building Systems Inc. This donation is the largest ever received by the foundation. It came at a critical time as the need for an on-site CT scanner became a top priority.

At the time, Britespan co-owner Ben Hogervorst said that as owners of a local family business, he and Rob Stute always believed in the importance of supporting the local community. “We have been putting money aside for several years now so that when a special need arose, we could step up and give in a big way. Wingham is where the majority of our staff come for their hospital care. We feel that responsibility to our community.”

In addition to Britespan and the many other generous donors, the success of the campaign can be credited in large part to the dedication of campaign chairman Mark Foxton who put countless hours into spearheading the campaign and advocating widely for the community to rally behind the cause. Foxton was joined on the campaign team by volunteers Dayna Deans, Andrew Kerr, Jenny Hogervorst, Shelley Reinhardt and Angela McPherson.

Foxton spoke about the success of the campaign at a celebration event, Nov. 7, at the Wingham Columbus Centre. “It was an honour to be part of this project,” he said. “I have personally needed a CT scan and know many others who have as well. This new CT in Wingham will benefit so many people and strengthen our hospital for the future”.

The need for a CT scanner at the Wingham Hospital has become a pressing issue. The machine is essential to emergency care and is a tool that has become the new standard of care. Currently, patients who need CT scans are transported to Listowel which can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment and is costly to the hospital.

Having a CT scanner in Wingham will allow for better utilization of scarce nursing and financial resources, as well as allowing patients for whom transportation is too challenging, to receive care. Beyond emergency room usage, the machine will make the Wingham Hospital more attractive to prospective physicians. Today’s physicians need CT images to offer the best care. Ultimately, having the service available on-site will be faster, safer and save money.

With the success of the “Caring Together” campaign secured, work to implement the CT scanner at the hospital has begun. A Somatom X-Cite CT scanner from Siemens Healthineers is on order, and construction and installation companies have been contracted. Construction has begun with Phase 1 creating two new ultrasound rooms and a bathroom, as the scanner will be located where the existing ultrasound rooms are currently located.

Project management continues. Schedules are being confirmed and final ministry approvals are forthcoming for construction, equipment deliveries, information technology integration, human resources, training and education. The first CT scan at Wingham Hospital is expected in the summer of 2025.

Appreciation goes out to the community, donors and the foundation for their support of the campaign and for making this technological advancement possible.

For further information about the foundation and the campaign, visit www.wdhfoundation.ca/ct-campaign.



Marking the achievement of the $3.6-million campaign to bring a CT scanner to Wingham Hospital, are “Caring Together” campaign chairman Mark Foxton (left), Britespan Building Systems co-owner Ben Hogervorst, hospital foundation executive director Nicole Duquette-Jutzi, and hospital emergency room lead Dr. Sean Henderson; photo courtesy of the Wingham Hospital Foundation