OPG supports new medical equipment for Bruce-area hospitals

Kincardine, ON – Today, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced a total of $60,000 in funding for three hospital foundations in Bruce County, to help purchase much-needed new medical equipment.

“In this challenging year, when hospitals are under additional stress due to the pandemic, OPG is pleased to be able to provide additional support to front-line health care in our local communities,” said Lise Morton, Vice President of OPG’s Nuclear Waste Management division, which operates the Western Waste Management Facility at the Bruce nuclear site.

The funding through OPG’s Corporate Citizenship Program will go to hospital foundations in Kincardine, Southampton and Walkerton, as follows:

• Kincardine Community and Health Care Foundation: $20,000 will go toward a computerized tomography (CT) scanner, used to produce detailed images of soft tissues. Work is almost completed on construction of the building on the east side of the hospital to house the new scanner
• Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation: In addition to OPG’s $5,000 support in the spring of 2020 for an echocardiography ultrasound machine, another $15,000 will go toward a new portable digital X-ray machine.
• Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation: $20,000 will go toward a new anesthetic machine, used in the operating room for elective general surgery, endoscopy and support to the birthing centre. The machine controls the mixing of medical gases and monitors patients’ breathing.

The foundations expressed their appreciation for OPG’s donations, particularly since the pandemic has curtailed some annual fundraising events. “This is truly a very different year for fundraising and health care and we are grateful for your support,” said Tracy Murphy, Executive Director of the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Through the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, OPG has donated more than 1.1 million items of Personal Protection Equipment for front-line health care workers, including 1 million surgical masks, 75,000 N95 masks, 17,500 Tyvek protective suits, 9,000 cloth masks, 10 respirators and 22,000 face shields (built in partnership with others). OPG has also donated more than $1 million to individual communities and groups supporting food programs for vulnerable residents. As well, through a partnership with Jack.org, OPG is helping bring mental health resources to young people and families across Ontario.

As well, OPG this fall completed an 11-day harvest of the Cobalt-60 medical isotope from Pickering Nuclear Generating Station – a practice that began almost 50 years ago – for use in sterilizing medical devices, a key line of defence for hospitals around the world as they continue the fight against COVID-19.

About OPG

OPG is a climate-change leader and the largest electricity generator in the province, providing more than half of the power Ontarians rely on every day. It is also one of the most diverse generators in North America, with expertise in nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, solar and natural gas technologies. Read about OPG’s climate initiatives at www.opg.com/climatechange