Heart monitor arrives at Maleny Hospital
Auxiliary president Louise Hickey (left) and secretary Margaret Cross at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital with the new heart rate monitor.
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) has gratefully received new equipment purchased with funds raised by Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital Auxiliary volunteers.
Among donations in 2020 totalling more than $50,000, the Auxiliary recently bought a Phillips Heart Rate Monitor which was installed at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital this month.
Maleny hospital Director of Nursing and Facility Manager, Karen Croker, said the monitor will enable more extensive monitoring of patients and may reduce the number of patients transferred to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
“It will be greatly appreciated by medical staff,” Ms Croker said.
“The monitor allows real time monitoring of the patient’s vital signs, cardiac rhythm and other physiological parameters.
“This assists the clinician to identify and respond quickly to any changes to the patient’s clinical condition, ensuring vital treatments are delivered rapidly.”
Maleny Hospital Auxiliary president Louise Hickey said: “In such a difficult year as 2020, the Auxiliary was very pleased to be able to purchase and gift much needed equipment to the hospital. Several pieces of equipment such as the Avia Tonopen, the Vital Signs Monitor, stand and Blood Pressure Cuff and Oxygen Concentrator are being regularly used and now after a long wait, the Heart Monitor is finally in service.
“Our fundraising focus and equipment purchasing assists our local hospital and its staff to continue their wonderful work. Our members hope that we make the patients’ hospital stay more pleasant, knowing that the medical staff have the equipment they need.
“The hospital presents us with a list of equipment and items each year and we’re always delighted to be able to provide what is required for the benefit of the patients and staff.”
Auxiliary secretary and retired nurse Margaret Cross said the effect of being able to stay at Maleny hospital cannot be underestimated for some patients and community members:
“Especially for older people, or people who have a partner nearby, it’s so much easier if they can stay here, reducing their travel time to the larger coast hospitals,” Mrs Cross said.
SCHHS Chief Executive Adjunct Professor Naomi Dwyer said she was delighted at the Maleny Auxiliary’s donations in 2020.
“Volunteers such as those who fundraise for the Auxiliary and the Maleny hospital are a treasured part of our community, and play a significant role,” Adj Prof Dwyer said.
“They are helping us deliver exceptional care for every patient, and we can’t thank them enough.”
New members of the Auxiliary are warmly welcomed. It meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information contact lp.hickey1@bigpond.com