MORE than $3 million has been provided by the community to improve health care in FNQ, in 2018-2019.
This is the second largest annual contribution in the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s 22 year history and takes the Foundation’s total grant funding contribution since inception, to more than $19 million.
Foundation chairman Dr Ken Chapman said the largest component of the $3 million, was $1.4 million for the second cardiac catheter laboratory at Cairns Hospital.
The Foundation also bought a new surgical microscope for $409,000 and campaigned and fundraised $423,000 to bring endoscopy to tertiary status.
“The Foundation is unique in that our cafes, carpark and other commercial operations, fund all of our operating costs, and then some,” Dr Chapman said.
“Not only are those profits funding our staff wages and expenses, but they also are contributing to the purchase of equipment for the health service,” he said.
“We commit to contributing $1 million each year to improve health services in this region, and we are extremely proud to produce results like this – the results of our hard working café, fundraising and administration teams,” Dr Chapman said.
As well, the reach of the Foundation in providing the opportunity for local communities to fundraise locally, has grown.
“We now have Friends groups in Atherton, Cooktown, Cow Bay, Croydon, Gordonvale, Herberton, Innisfail, Mareeba, Mossman, Tully and now Weipa,” Dr Chapman said.
In addition, Friends of the Foundation groups collectively raised more than $301, 000 towards equipment in their local hospitals.
The Foundation also funds local research and education, contributing just over $200, 000 including $50, 000 a year for three years towards a research assistant.
“As the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service moves towards becoming a tertiary hospital, our investment in research is vital and will continue to grow,” Dr Chapman said.
Photo: Foundation chairman Dr Ken Chapman and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chairman Dr Clive Skarott
