By REBECCA BILLS
A NEW upgraded breast feeding and parents’ room at the Angliss Hospital has been made possible after a generous donation.
Members of the Angliss Hospital Upper Ferntree Gully (UFTG) Auxiliary presented a cheque for $20,000 to the hospital at their AGM last week.
UFTG Auxiliary secretary Di Mullins said it is quite exciting to be able to provide the hospital with improved facilities and services.
“It really makes your role as a volunteer worthwhile as it gives you a sense of purpose with donations like this,” she said.
Director of Nursing and Midwifery Jenny Dempster at the Angliss Hospital said the donation will enable the hospital to provide a space for parents, mothers and new babies with improved facilities.
“What this money enables us to do is purchase more up-to-date equipment to support women with breast feeding difficulties and to be able to provide a more contemporary space that is light and bright and appropriately painted,” she said.
UFTG Auxiliary president Maxine McPeake spoke on the eventful year the Auxiliary has had with a number of members leaving including the former president and secretary.
“Whilst we thank all of our outgoing members and give thanks to their many years of service and dedication to our Auxiliary and the hospital, we are now eagerly looking to the future,” she said.
A hospital representative provided a demonstration of how last year’s donation of $18,970 helped pay for a new vital signs monitor for obstetrics.
“Because you have that on-going need for change for picking up vital signs for the women and new charts that come up that make best practice happen and be recorded consistently throughout the hospital,” she said.
“It means that we can go around and be more time efficient with our care.”
Eastern Health chief executive Alan Lilly said he was grateful for the UFTG Auxiliary contributions to the hospital.
“Last year Eastern Health was named the Premier’s Health Service of the Year,” he said.
“It was the first time Eastern Health has been the recipient of the title and it shows to the community the confidence the government has in the services that we are providing.
“It is the work that is done not only in the hospitals but in the communities that is done through the Auxiliaries that helps us become a better organisation.”
