by Cecilia Nasmith

Patients at the Northumberland Hills Hospital Clay and Elaine Elliott Women's Health Centre are benefiting from the latest and most advanced mammography technology, thanks to continued generous support from the community.

A press release from the hospital foundation said the new GE Healthcare Senographe Pristina mammography unit was delivered in June and has since been in use for patient exams. This addition is a result of the foundation's Equipped To Care program.

Launched in 2015, the program set a goal to raise at least $12-million by 2020 in support of high-priority capital-equipment purchases for the diagnostic-imaging department.

Foundation board chair Tyler Hathway announced in the press release that 85% of that goal has been raised - “$10,200,000 in leadership gifts and community support,” he said.

“It's so rewarding to see donations immediately put into action and begin serving the patients who turn to our hospital for care.”

The foundation supported the purchase of the new mammography unit with a capital contribution of $475,000.

This money came from many different donors and events, such as the 2017 Northumberland's Biggest Coffee Morning (which raised more than $50,000) and Betsy Miller's art exhibition and sale (which raised more than $3,000).

“It is truly a community effort that has come to fruition,” the press release stated.

The main concern at the Clay and Elaine Elliott Women's Health Care Centre is to understand the distinct issues related to women's health. Designed with privacy in mind, the centre offers access to state-of-the-art equipment in providing such services as bone-density testing, ultrasound, needle biopsy and mammography.

Between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018, the unit performed more than 6,100 mammograms. The hospital's mammography program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Radiologists, an accreditation accepted as the gold standard for mammography.

“We are so grateful to the community for funding this new mammography unit and technology,” senior mammography technologist Wendy Scott said in the press release.

“Early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women is our top priority, and this new unit will allow us to continue to provide diagnostic accuracy.”

The foundation reminds everyone that opportunities to support the hospital continue to roll out. The next one happens in Port Hope July 14, when the Colour Run For Care will be held. This is the first time for the Colour Run, though two popular annual events will be returning in the fall – Bike Up Northumberland on Sept. 15 and the foundation gala on Nov. 3.