The Sundre Hospital and Care Centre exists essentially exclusively courtesy of local pioneers who invested their time and effort towards making the facility a reality half a century ago, according to the hospital
"Fifty years ago, 235 Sundre and area women marched on the county seat in Didsbury to demand that council reverse their decision to refuse a new hospital district, the last barrier to building the Sundre hospital. They were successful, and one year later the new hospital opened," wrote Gerald Ingeveld, chair of the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee.
But after all of these years, he says the time has come to pursue some serious discussions about making plans for a new facility that will continue to serve the community for generations to come.
"The charge for the new hospital is one that's happening," he said. "The conversation is ongoing ó the decision to build a hospital will be a strong political one."
Whether funding for the new hospital becomes available in the next five, 10 or 20 years depends largely on how successfully the community manages to lobby the government, he said, expressing little doubt that it is just a matter of time.
"We are quite certain we'll get a new hospital in the foreseeable future."
However, the new facility will not likely bear much resemblance to the existing hospital. Delivery of health-care services has significantly evolved over the past few decades ó including new programs such as home assisted living as well as restorative and palliative care ó and the community's involvement will be critical in helping local medical professionals steer the process forward, he said.
The Sundre Hospital Futures Committee is committed to that ongoing grassroots effort to ensure the community maintains quality health-care services. It will be hosting the second annual Hospital Futures Legacy Gala fundraiser at the Sundre Community Centre on Nov. 18. Doors open for cocktails at 5 p.m. with supper starting at 6 p.m. followed by tributes and entertainment at 7 p.m. A silent auction will run throughout the evening.
Plans are coming together "very nicely" and Ingeveld said last week that two thirds of available tickets were sold the day they became available.
The evening will feature a special celebratory recognition of the Sundre hospital auxiliary's 50th year that will include a video compilation of interviews with three of the group's original members. Numerous health-care professionals and organizations that have won awards this year will also be recognized. Additionally, the committee's accomplishments, which include working hard to save five long-term care beds at the hospital, will also be celebrated, he said.
Over the 16 months since the compromise was reached with Alberta Health Services ó which had initially intended to shut down all 15 long-term care beds in Sundre ó there has been an ongoing effort led by Dr. Eugene Landsbergen to accumulate as well as map the statistics that reinforce what the local medical community fought so hard for, he said.
"He's been compiling that data that backs up what we were saying about the needs for the communityÖit's very valuable to be able to have that data to demonstrate what we kind of believed all along."
Similar to last year, the gala will wind up at about 9 p.m. with a live auction to raise funds that "will help facilitate the continued recruitment and retention of medical professionals, as well as fund the work needed to secure a new hospital in our community," he said.
A partnership with the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation this year means receipts will now be available for charitable donations, he added.
"Businesses and individuals are encouraged to consider sponsoring the event through cash donations, silent and live auction items," which can be dropped off at Dougan's Farm Supply, where tickets are also available, he said.
