Ushering in the New Year
Message from QCH President and CEO, Dr. Andrew Falconer
As President and CEO of Queensway Carleton Hospital, I look forward to sharing my annual New Year’s message with you, and all the caring people who have helped make QCH the hospital it is today. This year, I am filled with gratitude as I witness the resilience in the community that supports us so well, and the tireless dedication of my colleagues here at the hospital.
On behalf of the entire team, I’m honoured to say “thank you” for your generosity and the kindness you’ve shown with your donations and notes of appreciation over the holiday season. You’ve helped boost morale and contribute to the culture of compassion and exemplary care for which QCH is known.
As QCH continues to provide care to our growing community, we have turned to you for help many times. Thank you for being with us at every step!
Thanks to you, 2023 was bookended by two celebrations for the $6M Hopes Rising Campaign in support of mental health care. In December 2022, we cut the ribbon on the first phase of The Barbara Crook and Dan Greenberg Mental Health Centre, providing treatment and services for patients requiring inpatient care. In November 2023, we celebrated the opening of the new space for outpatient services with private consultation rooms, an exercise room, and large comfortable areas for group sessions and therapy. Combined, Queensway Carleton Hospital has doubled our space to provide mental health services at a time when the need has grown exponentially.
As part of the 2024 Annual Appeal, we ask for your support as we continue to raise funds for specialized furniture and equipment for these two units. Patients and staff will also benefit from a beautiful, therapeutic garden adjacent to the centre which will be completed this summer.
Your donation to this year’s Annual Appeal, will also help upgrade the technology on our aging MRI machine. The upgrades will make the patient experience more comfortable, shorten scan time, and reduce wait times for an MRI by approximately 30%. Our doctors are looking forward to new technology that gives clear, detailed images for diagnosing injury and disease so they can put patients on the road to treatment and recovery as quickly as possible.
Much of my career was spent as an Emergency Department (ED) physician right here at QCH. I can tell you that every day our ED team “punches above its weight” as one of the busiest ED’s in Ontario. As we look to the future of caring for this community, we will continue to work with the provincial government on plans to more than double the size of the QCH Emergency Department. We will be ready when you need us.
Your donation to the 2024 Annual Appeal will be used where it is needed most. That’s right, donations are used to buy the equipment and medical devices used to provide the best care possible, and to fund important building improvements.
Thank you for making QCH the hospital you and those you care about can depend on for compassionate and exemplary care – today and in the year ahead. On behalf of all of us, I wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2024.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Andrew Falconer
President & CEO, Queensway Carleton Hospital
P.S. If you recently made a donation over the holiday season, thank you. We are grateful for your continued support.
Is it more convenient for you to make your Annual Appeal gift to QCH with smaller monthly donations? Please call us at 613.721.4731 to arrange a monthly donation with your credit card or direct bank withdrawal. Thank you!