Women’s Farm Gathering donates surgical equipment
12 December 2006
A training device for laparoscopic surgery has been purchased for the Hamilton Base Hospital, thanks to the generosity of the Victorian Women’s Farm Gathering.
The farm women’s gathering was held in Hamilton in May this year, and was such a success according to VWFG president Larree Monaghan, they were able to donate funds to Western District Health Service and Angel Flight.
She said the VFWG committee was passionate that funds raised be directed to local needs, particularly those which supported rural women and helped people across a wide area.
WDHS Chief Executive Office, Jim Fletcher, said the $5500 donation from VWFG had allowed the Health Service to purchase the Laparscopic Training device, and cement WDHS’ place as a leading rural teaching hospital.
He congratulated the VWFG committee, for presenting such a successful conference in Hamilton, bringing so many people into our community, and donating the funds back into the Southern Grampians region.
Hamilton surgeon, Mr Steven Clifforth, said he saw the Laparoscopic Trainer at a conference, and recognised its usefulness to the surgeons working in theatre, and as a training device for the surgical registrars while they were training at HBH.
He said the trainer replicated laparscopic surgery, which was being undertaken more frequently, and allowed surgeons to practice techniques such as tying knots, internal stitches and handling needles.
“There would not be too many rural hospitals which boast one of these training devices,” he said.
CAPTION: Hamilton Surgeon Steven Clifforth and Hamilton Base Hospital new Theatre Manager Liz Munro, demonstrate the Laparscopic Trainer to Laree Monaghan, president of the Victorian Women’s Farm Gathering, which donated funds to purchase the surgical training equipment.