Pagers Increase Patients’ Quality of Life

Donor Steve Plunkett holds one of the pagers that help give cancer patients peace of mind as they await treatment at the London Regional Cancer Program

For Steve Plunkett, founder and president of The Plunkett Foundation, supporting London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is a way to honour a special person – his late father, internationally respected physician, fertility authority and teacher Dr. Earl Plunkett.

“My dad spent his entire career in London,” said Mr. Plunkett.  “This is a way to give back locally, and to continue his legacy in all areas of medicine.”

As a longtime hospital supporter, The Plunkett Foundation has given many generous gifts to LHSC, including a 2006 contribution in support of a patient pager system at the London Regional Cancer Program – a gift that Mr. Plunkett thinks of as one of the most rewarding.

Undergoing cancer treatment can be stressful for patients, who may spend several consecutive hours at the London Regional Cancer Program and who may encounter delays from time to time.  Prior to receiving The Plunkett Foundation’s generous gift, cancer patients awaiting appointments were often hesitant to leave the waiting area – to investigate the comforting private spaces available for their use, such as the beautiful water garden, for example – for fear they would miss hearing the attending nurse call their names.  Many patients also felt a lack of privacy at having their names called in such an open setting.

The solution was the implementation of a patient pager system at the London Regional Cancer Program – a solution made possible through the generosity of The Plunkett Foundation.  The 240 patient pagers are designed to send a page up to two miles away, allowing for more freedom for cancer patients to move about while awaiting appointments, as well as enhanced patient privacy.
“It’s really something, the impact this donation has had,” said Mr. Plunkett.  “There isn’t a week that goes by that someone doesn’t stop me to say thank you.”

Knowing that the generosity of The Plunkett Foundation has made such an important difference in the lives of cancer patients is what is most gratifying for Mr. Plunkett.

“We are so happy to have supported this project.”