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The unsung heroes of health care – the Four Counties Health Services Foundation

Perhaps the most appreciated and obviously heroic workers in our lives are our front-line health care professionals. 

They improve the quality of our lives, cure and treat us, support us, and save our lives when things seem most dire. We are fully aware of how much we need them. 

The unsung heroes of health care – the Four Counties Health Services Foundation Back to video

An equally important group of dedicated workers, often unnoticed, are the members of the hospital and other health foundations who dig down deep to raise the funds necessary to provide the up-to-date equipment which our health care workers require to test, treat and operate on us. 

Most of us are aware that the provincial government is quite stingy in providing sufficient funds to operate a hospital, providing the walls and the halls, but not the particularly important equipment which allow the high-quality health care we receive, despite this underfunding. 

The vision of the Four Counties Health Services Foundation (FCHSF) is “to ensure quality healthcare close to home” in an area comprising the four counties, at the centre of which the hospital is located – in close proximity and availability to all in our region! 

The mission of the foundation is to create an environment and mindset “to build relationships that support FCHS by raising awareness of critical equipment needs and encourage community ownership through giving.” 

FCHS is at the heart of our communities and is the enriching heart of our area. The hierarchy of the hospitals is the Middlesex Health Alliance (MHA) – FCHS – FCHSF – FCHS Auxiliary. Each one is nested atop another, and our support moves upward through this chain. 

A similar organization exists for the other partner hospital, South Middlesex General Hospital, also under the MHA umbrella. 

FCHSF raises funds for hospital medical equipment not supported by the Ministry of Health, which is defined by FSHS policy as any equipment valued over $3,000. 

Since 1987 the foundation has contributed $9.45 million to support equipment purchases at FCHS. 

This number truly is astounding and speaks to the hard work and dedication of the members and supporters of FCHSF. 

Nine people serve on the volunteer elected board of directors, while there are three ex-officio board directors and three part-time staff: Rosemary Bartlett, Jackie Van Eerd Beatty and Martha Wortner. The chair of the FCHSF is Tom Jeffery. 

Donations to the foundation provide state of the art equipment for patient care, allow the hospital to increase the number of procedures which can be performed there, reduce wait times and keeps care close to home. 

This latter point is of incalculable benefit to our community and our families.  Having a vital, modern health care centre is crucial to drawing people to our area, supporting and sustaining our community. 

A sampling of groups in our community which support the foundation are the Municipality of West Elgin, Salus Mutual Insurance Co., our local Legions, Kiwanis, Lions and Optimists clubs and IODE, to name but a few.  

In 2025 The Foundation’s appeal for medical equipment was $250,500 to purchase new and more advanced equipment for endoscopies, blood count testing, patient monitors, IV fluid delivery systems, staff training, respiratory distress equipment and a new cleaner for the housekeeping department. 

FCHS must as well complete infrastructure work to maintain a safe and efficient facility, such as accessible washrooms, new generators and doors and other technology to enhance communication at the hospital. 

There is a FCHS local advisory committee which provides input to the MHA board, participates in planning, and advises and assists with the recruitment of staff. 

These groups all function as a team to support the enterprise that is the hospital, giving the community a greater voice in decision making. 

You are likely familiar with the gift shop at the hospital, run and staffed by the FCHS Auxiliary, whose function is to assist in raising funds for the foundation and thus the hospital. 

Nevada ticket sales, the gift shop, the used bookstore, the winter bazaar and quilt and painting raffles all serve in this function. 

Please save the date of Monday, May 4 for the annual Auxiliary Spring Bazaar, Luncheon and Plant Sale, at the hospital from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

Third party events are also a major source of funds for the foundation, including Voiceprints concerts, Glencoe Lions 50/50 draws, a bonspiel at the Glencoe Curling Blub, car shows, sporting tournaments and road races. 

The signature events offered by the foundation are their chicken and rib drive-thru dinners, their annual golf tournament, July 10 at the Wardsville Golf Club, concerts, and the Split the Pot lottery. 

The Kiwanis Club of Rodney is one of many community organizations and service clubs which regularly supports the hospital via the FCHSF, giving $25,755 between 1994 and 2025, with an additional $2,000 donated last month. 

Learn more about the FCHSF at fchsfoundation.ca or about the hospital and its plans at www.mhalliance.on.ca/about/strategic-plan. 

Individuals can donate by supporting any of the events or activities noted above, online through the website or in person at the hospital. A current project of great importance is the helipad for Ornge air ambulances.  

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