machine itself, the MHA had to construct a 3,300-square-foot space within SMGH to house the suite. The new MRI suite includes a scanning room, patient prep and waiting ar- eas, offices, and a reception space. To fund this critical project, SMGHF launched its $8.6 million Advance & Renew Fundrais - ing Campaign – Phase 1 in July 2024. This is the largest fundraising initiative in the Foun- dation’s 35-year history.
MRI Suite Opens in March The Strathroy-Caradoc community has been eagerly anticipating the arrival of its new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine since Ontario’s Ministry of Health announced operational funding for one at Strathroy Mid- dlesex General Hospital (SMGH) two years ago. Now, the wait is finally over. This March, the Middlesex Hospital Alliance
(MHA), with the support of the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation (SMGHF), and our generous donors, the Bill & Lynne Gray L.H. Gray & Son Limited Diagnostic Imaging Department will officially open the new Marilyn Buttery & Lynne Lawrence CommonWealth Financial MRI Suite. Renovations for the MRI suite at SMGH began in April 2024 after the hospital’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Program was relocated to downtown Strathroy. The MRI machine was delivered in early January 2025, marking a significant milestone in the project. “I am incredibly proud of our teams who have worked so hard on the MRI suite here at SMGH over the past year. I am happy to report that this exciting project is on time and on budget,” says Julie McBrien, President & CEO of MHA. “This is an exceptional example of the MHA delivering on our strategic commitment to ‘Advance How We Deliver Care’ as outlined in the new Strategic Plan we released in the Fall of 2024.” While the government approved funding for the MRI’s opera - tional costs, it did not cover the purchase of the equipment or the necessary renovations. In addition to acquiring the MRI
“We’re truly grateful for the incredible generosity of our major donors and the countless members of the community who have supported this project from day one," adds Michelle Hancock, CEO of the SMGH Foundation. The new MRI suite at SMGH has received Ministry of Health funding to operate five days per week, eight hours per day. This addition will enhance early detection, patient diagnosis, and treatment planning while reducing wait times and improving ac- cess to high-quality, patient-centered care close to home. Addi- tionally, it will foster collaborations and resource-sharing oppor- tunities with London’s hospitals. While the MRI Suite will begin performing patient scans this March, approximately $3 million still needs to be raised to fully cover equipment and construction costs. For more details about the new MRI service and its impact on patient care, visit www.mhalliance.on.ca. To support this vital advancement in local healthcare, make a donation at www.smghfoundation.com. Photo Credit: SMGH Foundation
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