WALKING the hills of Mt Whitfield has contributed $60,000 towards new medical equipment at Cairns Hospital’s Emergency Department.
In addition, the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, which hosted the Audi Arrow Experience, chipped in a further $30, 000 to provide new medical imaging equipment at the hospital.
Cairns Hospital Emergency Department clinical nurse consultant Evan Casella said the new equipment meant staff are able to provide safe, fast and high-quality care to patients, particularly when transporting unwell patients between emergency and other departments.
“The monitors represent the latest medical technology and allow staff to continuously monitor heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure and oxygen levels,” Mr Casella said.
“Medical imaging monitors allow staff to view complex xrays and CT scans in much more detail than previously, leading to more accurate diagnosis,” he said.
In 2017-2018, more than 71, 000 people presented to the Emergency Department at Cairns Hospital for treatment.
On occasions the department’s staff have cared for 250 patients in one day.
Foundation CEO Tony Franz said it was so rewarding to put months of work into a new event and see it produce results so quickly.
“When you think that the Foundation covers a population area from Tully to the islands of the Torres Strait, west to Croydon and even Weipa, for these Emergency Department to see 71, 000 – that’s equivalent to a quarter of the whole population of Far North Queensland,” Mr Franz said.
More than 200 people participated in the inaugural Audi Arrow Experience in June last year, with top fundraiser prize going to Sharon Dawson of Dawson’s Engineering and one of her teams, The Big D.
This year’s MG Arrow Experience will be held on Sunday, July 14, with funds again earmarked for the Emergency Department.
Participants have the option of doing the short course (red and yellow arrows) or the longer course of the Green, Blue, Red and Yellow arrows. They pay a small registration fee and then fundraise at least $100 per person.
“People from all walks of life are coming together for this event – it will be a lot of fun, with food, music and medical support available, Mr Franz said.
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