If you’ve ever had to stay at the hospital, you know how important it is to have a comfortable bed. The South Muskoka Memorial Hospital says it has an urgent need to replace old beds that are no longer functioning. It has started a new campaign called Beds & Monitors to raise money for 36 beds, as well as 10 post-operative surgical monitors.
A bed costs $7, 500 while the monitors are $5,000 each. It’s up to individual hospitals to pay for their own equipment, while the province pays for basic equipment and staff. SMMH says it has a list worth around $3 million of various equipment it needs, but the beds and monitors are the most urgent. The campaign has a $320,000 fundraising goal by the end of the year.
A number of local businesses have already committed some cash to the fundraiser, as well as some seasonal and year-round residents. If you want to support the initiative, SMMH officials say you can donate individually or with a group of colleagues or friends. Contact Colin Miller at  (705) 645-4404, ext. 3246 for donation details.