Auxiliary to help ease pain of passing for Maleny’s palliative care patients

Auxiliary President Diana Bryce ... “Everybody is grateful that it’s here and we must keep it, so we will keep supporting it.”

A remarkable and determined band of volunteers have been fundraising for 38 years to make life a little easier for patients and staff at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

The Maleny Hospital Auxiliary are deeply committed to supporting the hospital and the broader Maleny community.

Auxiliary President Diana Bryce said Maleny locals were protective of their hospital.

“Everybody is grateful that it’s here and we must keep it, so we will keep supporting it,” Mrs Bryce said.

The auxiliary fundraises to help purchase equipment and supplies.

“We have put a lot of equipment into this hospital over the years – ‘extras’ that they wouldn’t otherwise have or would be waiting a long time to acquire,” she said.

Maleny Hospital Senior Medical Superintendent Dr Kris McQuaid discusses the palliative care facilities with Auxiliary President Diana Bryce. 

“We’ve just authorised the purchase of a slit lamp – a microscope used for eye examinations – so that people with eye concerns can be looked after at the hospital rather than having to go to an optometrist or down to the main hospital.”

The auxiliary’s current fundraising efforts will go towards the refurbishment of palliative care rooms, including making the rooms larger and providing a bed for partners to sleep close by.

“We don’t want to do the bricks and mortar, but we’d like to have a hand in making the rooms more like a bedroom at home, or a home away from home; to create a more pleasant and warmer environment for patients and their families.”

Maleny Hospital Senior Medical Superintendent Dr Kris McQuaid said the funds raised by the hospital auxiliary helped ensure specialised services could be delivered at a local level, minimising the need for patients to travel to larger hospitals.

Maleny provides a 24-hour emergency centre as well as an inpatient unit. The inpatient unit provides treatment and management of conditions such as palliative care, rehabilitation for those who have suffered such things as strokes, or following surgery such as hip or knee replacement, as well as caring for those with other medical conditions.

Director of Nursing and Facility Manager, Karen Croker said the hospital auxiliary donated equipment that brought extra comfort and convenience for patients, and often meant people could stay local and didn’t need to travel.

“Aesthetics are important for palliative care patients; their families spend a lot of time here and it’s important that people feel comfortable and as close to normal life as possible.

“The auxiliary funds will help to make the rooms and our beautiful verandas welcoming and calming and more suitable for the palliative patient and their family.

“We are extremely fortunate to have our auxiliary volunteers to connect our health service with the local community; they contribute so much to the wellbeing of our patients.”

On 14 September, the Maleny Hospital Auxiliary will host the Spring Affair fashion parade and morning tea at the Maleny Show Pavilion.

Mrs Bryce said an enjoyable morning was planned with beautiful food, flowers and fashion and some very nice raffle prizes. 

• Guests can buy single tickets for $30 or make up tables of six or seven people; but be quick as tickets must be purchased before the event. Call Diana 0407 372 613 or Jan 0409 876 112 for ticket sales.