The Lions Club of Chittaway Bay has shown their ongoing support for Central Coast Local Health District, with a generous donation to help patients at Gosford Hospital.
They have provided funds to enable surgical inpatient unit J9 to purchase a vascular doppler to measure blood flow through patients’ arteries and veins.
One of the Lions Club members recently spent time on the ward and the donation was a way for them to give back.
“This donation means a lot to us and is something close to our hearts as one of our members recently stayed on the ward,” Lions Club representative Di Barrett said.
“We all need hospital care at times or have a friend or relative who does, so we want to show our support and appreciation for our local hospitals and the staff that do such an incredible job caring for the community.”
Members of the Lions Club recently visited Gosford Hospital for a demonstration of the doppler.
Inpatient unit J9 Nursing Unit Manager Taran Kelly said most patients admitted to J9 have a fractured bone in their leg or arm and all those patients require neurovascular assessments before and after their operation.
She said having their own doppler on the ward would be of great benefit to patients and staff as it picks up a pulse far quicker and easier than by touch.
“The doppler helps our nurses to carry out the exam more efficiently and effectively to quickly identify any blood flow issues,” Ms Kelly said.
“If the pulse can’t be felt, we can use the doppler to measure the pulse in the patient’s limb, giving us a more accurate assessment and allowing us to identify and escalate any potential risks earlier.”
Ms Kelly thanked the Lions for their generosity.
“Thank you for your amazing fundraising efforts – this donation will get timely results and help improve our patients’ experience, so we truly appreciate it,” she said.
The Lions were pleased to have the opportunity to see how the equipment would benefit staff and patients.
“We’re thrilled to see how the doppler works and the difference it will make for staff and patients,” Ms Barrett said.