In just three years the fundraiser has raised over $160,000 to support priority medical equipment needs at the QEH, primarily breast health care. Proceeds have helped to fund a new mammography machine and, just last year, equipment for the Provincial Laboratory that is used to process tissue samples from breast biopsies.

Greg Dobbin, Chief Technologist of the QEH Histology Laboratory says the automated tissue-cassette printer purchased last year with support from the Ultimate Shed is improving patient safety.

“All surgical specimens submitted to the Histology Lab are sampled and processed within these tissue-cassettes,” says Dobbin. “Surgical specimens can include such specimens as breast tissue, gastro-intestinal specimens, skin biopsies and many others. Automated printers eliminate the risk of human error that can occur when items are labelled by hand. Moreover, they provide the ability to print a unique two-dimensional bar-code on each specimen cassette. These new state-of-the-art cassette printers allow us to avoid the risk of potentially catastrophic mis-match errors thus ensuring the highest degree of patient safety for Islanders.”

MaryEllen Hughes, Director of Philanthropy for the QEH Foundation, says the Ultimate Shed Giveaway is a testament to the good that can be done in the community when we work together.

“Every year the shed is incredibly designed and built,” says Hughes. “Thanks to the supporters who purchase tickets, and the incredible construction, design and home furnishing industry for ensuring that 100% of all materials, decor and labour are donated or sponsored.  We are so grateful that such generous people are working together each year on this project to support Islanders and advance the exceptional care offered at the QEH.”