A very generous donation has helped increase the standard of care for chemotherapy patients at the Calvary Mater Hospital.
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Lions clubs from across the Hunter have donated $40,606 to the hospital so it can purchase a portable ultrasound machine.
“The machine will help avoid multiple attempts at finding the vein when cancer is traumatic enough,” Raymond Terrace Lions Club president Inga Kasch said.
“It’s also great for nurses who want to provide the best clinical care possible.”
Mrs Kasch will visit the Calvary Mater on Thursday for the official presentation on behalf of 10 Lions clubs that worked so hard to raise the money.
Raymond Terrace, East Maitland, Maitland, Gloucester, Tea Gardens, Fingal Bay, Soldiers Point, Clarencetown, Medowie, and Stroud all contributed funds with top up grants from The Australian Lions and Lions NSW/ACT Public Health and Save Sight Foundations.
“The high cost of the machine made it difficult for one club to fund its purchase in the short time frame required so the Raymond Terrace Club put out the call to all of the other clubs, who were in the feeder district for the Mater Oncology Unit, and as usual when the chips are down, they all contributed to the pool of funds,” Mrs Kasch said.
“The project was suggested to our club by Ken Curry for Raymond Terrace after witnessing a family member being stressed after having numerous attempts made to find a suitable vein to administer the much needed chemotherapy.”
Calvary Mater Newcastle's Department of Radiation Oncology provides services for the assessment and management of oncological problems and the delivery of high quality radiation therapy treatment.
The department is staffed by a multi disciplinary team of Radiation Oncologists (RO), Radiation Therapists (RT), Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists (ROMP), Nursing, Allied Health, Clerical and Domestic services personnel.
The ultrasound enables clinicians to insert a long catheter, that extends up the arm, suitable for a full round of chemotherapy.
“The staff doing the inserting can can actually visualise the vein,” Calvary Mater director of clinical services, nursing, Roz Everingham said.
“It actually reduces the number of punctures too.”
For more information on how to join a Lions Club near you visit http://lionsclubs.org.au/.
Lions Australia prides itself on a long list of achievements from disaster and emergency relief to medical research and community service.
