MORE than $56,000 worth of diagnostic and treating equipment has been bought by the Atherton community, for the Atherton Hospital.
Atherton Hospital Acting Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Facility Manager Leonie Jennings was delighted with the purchases, many of which came about through the hard work of the former Atherton Auxiliary, which became the Atherton Friends of the Hospital Foundation.
The new equipment includes:
* an Olympus camera head for laparoscopic procedures in theatre
* Sara Plus – a powered standing and raising aid for mobilising and rehabilitation
* Electrocardiogram to measure cardiac abnormalities in the Emergency Department
* blood warmers to warm blood during or prior to delivery to patients
* vital signs monitors to help clinicians measure patients blood oxygen, blood pressure and cardiac rhythms
* blood pressure machines and Seca measuring devices for community health.
In addition, the parent body, the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, purchased a spot check monitor for $6085 and diathermy unit of $12,500.
Ms Jennings said the equipment would make a significant difference to patient outcomes.
“We at Atherton Hospital and in the Atherton community generally, are extremely fortunate to have the hard-working volunteers of the Friends of the Foundation working towards helping improve our equipment,” Ms Jennings said.
Atherton Friends of the Foundation president Di Williams said many people who live in the Atherton area were born at the Atherton Hospital and their grandchildren also were born there.
“When coming into hospital as patients, they are on a first name with their treating doctors and nurses. Many actually prefer to be treated in Atherton rather than being transferred elsewhere so it’s great to have more equipment to help facilitate that,” Mrs Williams said. “Atherton Hospital is part of the community – to be a local here is to support and be proud of the hospital.
“It’s the big and little things about being a volunteer at Atherton Hospital that make a big difference – the daily shopping trolley, providing a daily service for a chat and selling items that patients in hospital might like to buy.”
Foundation CEO Tony Williamson was thrilled to see the Atherton community supporting its local hospital. “It really makes us all incredibly proud to see achievements like this that are making our regional hospitals better,” Mr Williamson said.
Photos:
Bev Prescott, Hazel Christensen, Dorothy Bew, Suzanne Gane, Tony Birch
Dorothy Bew, Tony Birch, Suzanne Gane, Bev Prescott, Hazel Christensen.
