WITHOUT beds there can’t be a hospital and one Leeton group is more than aware of this.
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The Leeton Hospital Auxiliary has donated four new electronic beds to the town’s hospital in what will make life easier for both patients and nurses.
The beds aren’t cheap, with the auxiliary having to undertake many fundraising activities in order to make the purchases.
This has included raffles, street stalls, garage sales and much more.
Nursing unit manager of the ward LeeAnne Driscoll was more than happy to see the beds rolled up.
“It definitely makes our job as nurses as lot easier,” she said.
“You’re not having to fuss around moving a patient in the bed … it’s all electronic.
“The other pleasing thing is we get these beds from the emergency department to the wards, so we’re not having to swap patients over from beds.
“This is critical, especially if someone is seriously ill and we need to move or treat them quickly.”
The beds are also alarmed and the control panel is easier for nurses to use.
“In the past they had remotes attached to them, now you can just press the buttons for whatever function you’re after,” Ms Driscoll said.
The beds also have a built-in alarm if the brakes aren’t on.
A new treadmill, to be paid for by the auxiliary, has been ordered for the hospital to use as part of a new program.
Patients that would have normally been able to undergo cardiac rehabilitation treatment in Griffith will now be able to do so in Leeton.
Over the years the auxiliary has poured in countless dollars to the hospital.
The facility continues to rely on the organisation when it comes to purchasing items like the beds and new equipment.
Staff at the hospital will often have a wishlist of vital equipment they need and the auxiliary will do its best to work towards purchasing it.
Auxiliary chairman Des Driscoll said it was important to continue providing these resources to the hospital.
“When there’s not enough funding, it’s important we can raise the money to purchase these items,” he said.
It’s not just the hospital that the auxiliary helps to provide for.
Carramar is also a beneficiary.
Mr Driscoll said for the work to continue it was essential the community continued its support of the group.
“Leeton has always been a very generous community,” he said.
“It’s never too hard to fundraise in Leeton because people always give what they can and want to help, which is great.”