16 The Ramsay Way - 2014 | 01 Peel donates old equipment to Africa Drive by Pharmacy THE TEAM AT RAMSAY PHARMACY NORTH SHORE PRIVATE HOSPITAL RECENTLY TOOK DELIVERY OF THEIR NEW PHARMACY VEHICLE COMPLETE WITH BRIGHT RAMSAY PHARMACY GRAPHICS & SIGNAGE. The team hope to use the car to provide pharmacy services to communities in and around Northern Sydney. Ramsay Pharmacy Services National Manager, Peter Giannopoulos said that the car would deliver pharmacy services in the community including much needed home medicines reviews. “The provision of community-based pharmacy services is becoming increasingly important to managing often complex medication regimes and reducing medication misadventure,” Peter said. RPS also plans to use the car to deliver presentations and talks to local community groups as well as being a great way to increase recognition of the Ramsay Pharmacy retail franchise brand. OURCOMMUNITY SOME OF MADAGASCAR’S POOREST PEOPLE WILL SOON HAVE ACCESS TO VITAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, THANKS TO BIG-HEARTED STAFF AT PEEL HEALTH CAMPUS. Second-hand endoscopy equipment, which could potentially prevent painful stomach conditions like gastroenteritis, was sent over to the African island nation to help Australian Doctors for Africa in their fight against preventable disease, perioperative nursing director Martin Feckie said. Mr Feckie, who worked closely with the nationwide charity to set up the donation, said nine endoscopes and two sterilisers were shipped ahead of Dr Digby Cullen’s 6970km journey to the country in February this year. Peel Health Campus patients would also benefit, with brand new endoscopy equipment already in use at the hospital, he said. “At Peel, we have the highest quality endoscopy equipment - we also have the shortest waiting list in the region, and very skilled endoscopists,” he said. “Endoscopies can save lives because they reduce the need for surgery, which can cause infections and lead to loss of life.” Dr Cullen, who has travelled to Madagascar several times with Australian Doctors for Africa, said a South -East Asian strain of gastroenteritis was a huge burden on people in rural areas, and the limited medical staff available to care for them. The donation of equipment would enable doctors to detect parasites and other infection - causing illnesses which plagued the population of the world’s 11th poorest country, he said. “We provide equipment and training on a regular basis - this donation will represent the best equipment that the doctors there have ever had,” he said. Peel chief executive Margaret Sturdy said the hospital had “fantastic and dedicated” endoscopy nurses, and praised Mr Feckie’s initiative to organise donation of the equipment. Mt Wilga Private Hospital hosted an ‘Iced Tea Party’ as part of the Australasian Lymphoedema Association’s (ALA) month long campaign in March to raise awareness and funds for research and education of this chronic and debilitating condition. Lymphoedema occurs when the lymphatic circulation fails to function correctly, causing persistent swelling of the limb(s) and other areas of the body. Whilst Mt Wilga Private Hospital has had over 20 years of experience in managing patients who have lymphoedema, sadly, the condition is still largely unrecognised and currently there is no cure. Kathy Beverley, the Acting CEO of Mt Wilga said: “By providing support to the ALA through a fun event like today’s Iced Tea Party and other events throughout the year, we hope vital research can assist with improving the quality of life for people with Lymphoedema”. WE PROVIDE EQUIPMENT & TRAINING ON A REGULAR BASIS - THIS DONATION WILL REPRESENT THE BEST EQUIPMENT THAT THE DOCTORS THERE HAVE EVER HAD Photo courtesy of Sound Telegraph - Arran Morton Mt Wilga keeps cool at their Iced Tea Party
The Ramsay Way - Autumn 2014
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