Hospital Sunday doorknock for Image Intensifier
15 April 2008
Volunteers are once again preparing to pound the pavement when they doorknock for the annual Hospital Sunday Appeal on May 3 and 4.
The annual appeal will be raising funds for a mobile Image Intensifier, which is a powerful imaging system used in theatre to assist in urology, setting breaks and fractures, gall bladder surgery and surgery on joints, such as knees and hips.
The total cost of a new image intensifier is $150,000.
Chief Radiographer Sue Marschall said the image intensifier provides a “real time” picture, which medical specialists use to assist them in operations, such as when screwing fractures or checking for stones when taking out gall bladders.
She said the Image Intensifier would be used up to six times each week, adding that one of its major benefits to Hamilton Base Hospital was the equipment’s ability to assist our residents at times of acute injury.
“For example, if there is a road accident which results in a broken leg, then that can be fixed in theatre at Hamilton at the time of the injury. Without this equipment the patient would need to be stabilised, transported to Melbourne and then have to wait for the injury to be treated,” Ms Marschall said.
“The new Image Intensifier will service WDHS for the next 20 years. This piece of equipment is good for the hospital and it’s good for the community,” she said.
Western District Health Service Chief Executive Officer Jim Fletcher said it was essential for the community to continue the program of upgrading vital medical equipment in order to attract and retain visiting medical specialists and provide a breadth of services to the region’s residents.
“HBH is serviced by a visiting urologist who uses the Image Intensifier in theatre. Having an Image Intensifier means that people in our community do not have to go away for urology tests,” he said.
Mr Fletcher said the current Image Intensifier had become outmoded and nearing its used-by date. “It does not provide a number of functions which are included in the new model, such as keeping a record of the images taken.”
“In 2007, our Health Service was given the Premier’s Award as Victoria’s leading Regional Health Care Service, and at WDHS we are working hard to ensure that we retain our status as a first-class regional health care service,” he said.
Mr Fletcher said WDHS was lucky it received support from more than 100 volunteers who each year took on the task of doorknocking throughout the shire for the Hospital Sunday Appeal.
The volunteer collectors will knock on doors throughout Hamilton, Dunkeld and Penshurst, and following the success of the rural collection last year, volunteers will visit residents on farms and living in rural areas throughout the WDHS region.
It is a busy weekend in Hamilton, so if collectors find residents are not at home, they will leave forms which can be returned to the hospital with donations. All donations over $2 are tax deductible, and collectors will provide receipts on request.
People planning to be away for the weekend who may wish to donate to the Appeal can contact the Community Liaison Department at WDHS on 55518231.
Donations can also be directed to areas of the Western District Health Service, such as the Coleraine or Penshurst campuses, if requested by the donor.