The Bluewater Health Foundation has reached its $912,000 fundraising goal for the hospital's new helipad.
Last year, Lambton County Council approved $400,000 in funding for the project and the remaining funds were donated by the community, including a $100,000 contribution from the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital (CEEH) Foundation.
"Thank you for your remarkable support and investment, we are very grateful to all of our partners and our donors," said Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander during Wednesday's Lambton County Council meeting.
Since day use certification was granted in November, the helipad has been utilized for six patient transfers, including two transfers to Toronto tertiary centres.
Vice President of Clinical Services Laurie Zimmer said they're looking forward to receiving their night-time certification.
"Getting patients the care they need faster, supports improving outcomes for patients," said Zimmer. "We're so thankful for our new helipad which helps make fast connections to the top pediatric centres, like Sick Kids in Toronto because minutes matter for patients. So having the team come, getting that patient stabilized to fly and off we to go to where they need to go, is really important for better outcomes."
She said it also helps staff on the ground here, keeping health resources local.
"So, a Toronto transfer by land is usually around eight or more hours, with a doctor or nurse and the paramedics taking a truck out of the county for that long," said Zimmer. "London transfers usually are around three hours or more. Again, keeping our resources here in Sarnia-Lambton is really the most important."
A visit from Transport Canada is expected at the end of the month to conduct an audit of the site, as part of the night-time certification process.