The Ramsay Way 2016 | 02 17 COMMUNITY NEWS Ramsay/Rotary Donations Program Continues Strongly Now in its fourth year the partnership between Rotary Berrima and Ramsay which sees medical equipment and hospital items from Ramsay Australia sent to developing communities continues to provide a very worthwhile service. In 2015/16 a wide range of equipment was donation and shipped to communities as far away as Bangladesh. In the last year Rotary Berrima has networked with Rotary groups Australia-wide that are already working with individual overseas communities and working together to co-ordinate and share transport costs to these communities. It has been a great initiative as transport costs can be a very expensive part of the program. Last year Southern Highlands Private Hospital donated an ECG machine which went to Uvira Hospital, South Kivu in the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo. Papunya in central Australia also received an ECG machine from Southern Highlands Private. Papunya is a small Indigenous community roughly 240 km northwest Congolese surgeons use donated equipment from Ramsay and Rotary in Uvira Hospital, Democratic Republic of Congo. of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and is home to a number of Aboriginal people mainly from the Pintupi and Luritja groups. David (pictured) is one of their employees and looks after the gardens there and was very excited to see that heart machine come in the door. ‘Having this ECG means the nurses can get better information when someone is having problems on dialysis.’ Patients at the Uvira hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo are now benefitting from other donations delivered this financial year including anaesthetic machines, suction kits, defibrillators and an instrument washing unit, ventilators and five adjustable chairs, two sets theatre lights, and a blood fridge, all from Ramsay facilities. Donations to the Ramsay/Rotary Program in 2015/16 Southern Highlands Private donated: • Three ECG machines to Alice Springs (WDNPT Aboriginal Corporation) • Blood sugar kits and mattresses to The Philippines; and • One birthing unit light to Kiribati. Glenferrie Private donated three anaesthetic machines to Bangladesh. Warringal Private donated two beds to Timor Leste. Greenslopes Private donated two analgesia units, three lifters and a quantity of clothing to PNG. Hunters Hill Private donated 10 beds to The Philippines Sunshine Coast University Private donated consumables, angiography wires, catheters, intra-aortic balloons, vessel closure devices and procedural packs If your site has any unwanted medical equipment, beds or supplies that you would like to donate to the program please contact panucciosue@ramsayhealth.com.au Kareena Supports Fiji after Cyclone Devastation In late February a tropical cyclone directly hit Fiji causing enormous devastation. Alumita Natekuru, RN at Kareena Private originating from the province of Ra on the main island of Viti Levu was personally affected when her village was destroyed. Fijians show their gratitude to Kareena Private Hospital for donations. After the devastation of tropical cyclone Winston, the Nasusori villagers (as most of the affected areas in Fiji) had lost everything but the clothes on their backs. The people of Nausori village were able to take shelter in the village’s church and others in what was left of the village community hall which were the only two remaining concrete buildings in the village. To support Alumita and her home village Kareena Private Hospital donated 13 large tents while the staff rallied together to donate canned food, clothes, beddings, cutlery, kitchenware and money. Alumita explains “They had never seen such posh tents and as such would line up to have turns sitting inside them- only six people at a time.” One of the donated tents became the village dispensary and first aid area run by the village nurse. In April, Alumita made the trip back to the small village of 373 people to deliver the donated tents and other items. The people of Nasusori were overwhelmed with gratitude. Hollywood Private Hospital Recognised for Community Contribution This year marks 42 years of the Australian Red Cross Soup Patrol, a mobile food service for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, socially disadvantaged, or on very low incomes. Hollywood Private Hospital (and Repatriation General Hospital Hollywood as it was known prior to 1994) has played an important role in this vital community service since its inception. In recognition of the hospital’s significant contribution, Hollywood was honoured with an award presented at Aquinas College in May. Hosted by Red Cross, the ceremony recognised and acknowledged the many volunteers and supporters of this highly valued and much needed service. Accepting the award on behalf of Hollywood, Catering Manager Peter Trusler said the hospital had gained enormous satisfaction from being a part of this important service that has made a contribution to so many peoples’ lives over so many years. “By working alongside Red Cross to assist with this vital initiative, we can help those in need while at the same time eliminating waste within our kitchen,” he said. “We use fresh vegetables and meats to produce 80 to 100 litres of soup every day. The soup is collected by Red Cross Soup Patrol volunteers and is then distributed to people in need in the Perth city area and in Fremantle.” Hollywood’s involvement saves Red Cross a significant amount of money per year based on an average of 90 litres of soup produced per day. Over the 42 year partnership, it’s estimated that Hollywood has donated over one million litres of soup to thousands of people in need. Peter Mott, Hollywood’s CEO, said “We are very proud of the longevity of the soup project and its reach. The service is highly valued and appreciated by the many people who rely on it.” “Being a part of this important collaboration for the community is very much aligned with our Ramsay values and is an initiative Hollywood plans to continue for many years to come”, he stated. Hollywood Catering Manager, Peter Trusler, with Dianne Buckles, WA Divisional Advisory Board Chair, Australian Red Cross.
The Ramsay Way - 2016 Edition 2
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