Citing concerns from their membership, the SDH board of directors is seeking answers for how donated funds, geared specifically towards Wallaceburg’s hospital, is being handled.
In order to provided some clarity, Michele Grzebien-Huckson, chair of the Foundation of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, provided a presentation to the Sydenham District Hospital board on June 1.
Grzebien-Huckson said the Sydenham Campus has its own restricted category with the Foundation where donors can direct their funds too.
However, if there is any equipment purchased, even with the restricted funds, it is owned by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
“We are the guardians of the donors money,” Grzebien-Huckson said.
“Let’s say for example the x-ray equipment we purchased, it is not all SDH money. We did a big campaign so there is also a lot of Chatham-Kent money in there as well. So its not strictly just from Sydenham donors. If a donation is made restricted for SDH, we would not release those funds for any other purchase.”
Grzebien-Huckson said the focus of fundraisers – and what equipment is purchased with it – comes from the CKHA.
“It is based on the Alliance needs of the Campus,” she said.
“It would still come as a direction from CKHA.”
Grzebien-Huckson said the breakdown of the donations and funds is all included in an annual report.
“It is a delicate situation because we are the stewards of the funds.”
Sheldon Parsons, chair of the SDH board, said there is “quite a bit of angst in the community” when it comes to this situation.
“We don’t know how it is going to work itself out,” he said.
“We have an annual meeting coming up June 23 and we want to put our best foot forward that we can so that those resources that have been available from the community, they wont stop because of the issues that we are facing.”
Parsons said there is a history of equipment being moved from SDH, as services are shut down.
“Governance and operations are connected but they are not same,” he said.
“Unless this is resolved, then there will be questions that we need to answer that will have impact on fundraising which we do not want to see. We have always said we want to be part of the Alliance but there are issues that we face. We will continue to work at that and whatever comes down the tube with respect to where this governance is going to shake out, we don’t know.
Parsons added: “In the interim we need to be able to assure the members and the general public that it is safe and reliable to give monies to the Foundation because is will be segregated with their wishes and as to their wishes.”
The AGM will be held at the UAW Hall in Wallaceburg on Thursday, June 23 at 5 p.m.
Based on that information , the equipment bought with SDH’s donation money should still be owned by SDH ???
I use to donate when it wasn’t part of CKHA and when it is finally separated, I will probably decide to donate again. I’ve seen to much “disappear” over the years and the chatham hospital seems to get more and more.