MORE than $90,000 worth of medical equipment has been bought for Innisfail Hospital, thanks to generous bequests from local philanthropists.
Innisfail Hospital Friends of the Foundation this week handed over an ultrasound for maternity and two special patient chairs for the Emergency Department.
The purchases came about through two bequests from Innisfail individuals who wanted their gifts to support the Innisfail Hospital that had cared for them.
Innisfail Hospital Director of Medical Services Dr Thomas Coombs said the ultrasound was a very welcome addition to the maternity unit’s suite of equipment.
“Our new sonosite ultrasound machine is a great asset to our maternity department. The addition of this machine allows us to check on the well-being of the baby in real time. Some of the ways we do this are by looking at the amniotic fluid levels, umbilical cord blood flow and checking the position of the baby,” Dr Coombs said.
“The availability of ultrasound also helps in assessment of neonates requiring resuscitation and in the placement of intravenous cannulations,” he said.
Innisfail Hospital Emergency Department Acting Nurse Unit Manager Romy Clark said the two Dalcross chairs have provided extra space for patients to be reviewed by clinicians.
“Often they are used to fast-track patients requiring simple treatment,” Ms Clark said. “With the ability to raise patients’ legs and lie back, patients have already found them comfortable to sit in,” she said.
Innisfail Hospital Friends of the Foundation (a subsidiary of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation) president Estelle Kopp said she was eternally thankful for the Innisfail community’s support.
“People here are always generous because they know this is ‘their’ hospital and they are passionate about supporting us. We are very dedicated to providing equipment that saves lives and benefits the whole community,” Mrs Kopp said.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan paid tribute to the ongoing support received by Innisfail Friends from the local community. “What’s beautiful about our Friends groups, is that all funds raised by them locally stays local. And equally funds dedicated by local people in their will for local hospitals such as Innisfail, stay local. It’s great because it builds capacity in the outlying hospitals and helps take pressure off Cairns Hospital,” Mrs Hogan said.
Photo: Ultrasound: Vanessa Lewis, Kaye Clark, Tasmine Mueller, Dr Thomas Coombs, Estelle Kopp and Jessy Chekamba. Emergency Department Chair: Romy Clark, Natasha Edwards, Estelle Kopp, Dr Thomas Coombs (sitting), Jimmy Chai, Kerry Mann.
