Hospital Sunday Goes to Work
1 May 2008
The Hospital Sunday Appeal will arrive a few days early in workplaces around Hamilton this year.
The Western District Health Service’s major annual 
fundraiser the Hospital Sunday Appeal is launching a new campaign to involve people working in Hamilton – Hospital Sunday Goes to Work.
Hospital Sunday Goes to Work will be held for the first time on Friday May 2 in offices throughout Hamilton, and WDHS hopes businesses will support the intiative.
“We are asking workplaces to participate in Hospital Sunday Goes to Work, to help raise funds for the Health Service, and take the opportunity to enjoy a bit of downtime with work colleagues as well,” WDHS Community Liaison Manager Deb Howcroft said.
“Quite a few businesses have already put their hands up to be involved. One of their work colleagues will be our Hospital Sunday volunteer, and organise a morning tea, casual day or just get-together and encourage their workmates to donate to the Hospital Sunday Appeal,” she said.
The annual Hospital Sunday Doorknock Appeal will be held this year over the weekend of May 3 and 4, with volunteer collectors knocking on doors throughout Hamilton, Dunkeld and Penshurst. Following the success of the Rural Collection last year, volunteers will also visit residents on farms and living in rural areas throughout the WDHS region.
WDHS Chief Executive Officer, Jim Fletcher said that feedback indicated that while people wanted to support the Health Service through the Hospital Sunday Appeal, there needed to be more opportunities to ensure everyone had the chance to give.
“In the past, not everybody has had the opportunity to donate – being a weekend means that quite a few people are not at home when the volunteers call, and even though we leave postage paid envelopes and donation forms, people may not get around to dealing with it,” he said.
“We want everyone to have the chance to contribute if they choose, and we are hoping that initiatives like the Rural Doorknock and Hospital Sunday Goes to Work will do just that.”
The focus for WDHS’ appeal in 2008 is to raise the remainder of the funds required to purchase a new Image Intensifier. This equipment magnifies an x-ray image, enabling the surgeon to easily see the part of the body being imaged while operating.
The new equipment costs $150,000 and will replace the current Image Intensifier which is 22 years old.
According to Chief Radiographer Sue Marschall, 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 Hospital Sunday Appeal is an important annual fundraiser for WDHS. In 2007 our Hospital Sunday Appeal raised in excess of $41,000, which purchased a videocolonoscope, a vital piece of equipment used in the early detection of bowel cancer.
If anyone would like to know more about Hospital Sunday Goes to Work, they may contact Community Liaison Manager Deb Howcroft on 5551 8231.
ABOVE: Community Liaison Manager Deb Howcroft prepares for morning tea with company representatives who will participate in Hospital Sunday goes to Work.