Wauchope Lions Club and the Patricia Dukes Foundation have joined forces to ensure seriously ill patients at Wauchope District Memorial Hospital have a comfortable stay while in Palliative Care.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two charitable organisations have donated five pressure-relieving mattresses to the Palliative Care Unit at a cost of $11,445.
The special mattresses were purchased after a patient trial, which received the thumbs up from those who had to spend many hours in bed because of their illness.
Wauchope Lions Club President Jim Munro said when he learned about the trial's success, his fellow Lions wanted to make the very practical donation of buying a mattress for each room. The task was made a little easier when the Patricia Dukes Foundation agreed to match the Lions contribution, dollar for dollar.
The generous donation follows an $11,000 electrocardiogram (ECG) machine gifted to the Palliative Care Unit in July with the help of the Patricia Dukes Foundation, a charitable Trust established a decade ago by the late Pat Dukes, a dedicated nurse.
Palliative Care Nurse Unit Manager Mary Trotter said she was extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Wauchope Lions and the Foundation.
"These mattresses are not only comfortable for patients who spend a lot of time in bed, but they are a wonderful preventative measure for patients suffering from pressure ulcers or patients who are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers," Ms Trotter said.
"For most of us, bed is a place of rest but for seriously ill patients, it can be a place of discomfort and pain.
"Our new pressure mattresses mean palliative care patients will have a more comfortable stay at the unit, improved rest and less risk of pressure wounds."
Mr Munro said he was delighted the Lions' partnership with the Patricia Dukes Foundation had delivered yet another valued donation to the health and well-being of the local community.
"Wauchope Lions is very grateful to the Foundation for their assistance in making this donation, and that of the ECG machine to the Palliative Care Unit, a reality. The Foundation also helped us place an automatic electronic defibrillator outside the Wauchope Pharmacy in High Street.
"It's a partnership that is making a valued contribution to our community and we are delighted to be able to make a difference."
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
