The Canowindra Hospital is in need of an ultrasound machine and the community are banding together to try and make this happen. President of the Canowindra branch of the United Hospital Auxiliary, Peggy Beath, has been steadily raising funds with the help of other members over the past few months. Dr Nick O’Ryan had also been pushing for the machine to be installed when Kerby Lawrence came up with the idea to ask locals for help. “I suggested a gofundme page to try and generate a response and the site has taken off” she said, “in six days we’ve managed to raise over $2000.”
Benefits of the machine would include accurate assessment for the need for bladder catheterisation (and more importantly when not to catheterise) and assessment for the need of urgent surgery in patients who have suffered trauma from car accidents.
“Ultrasound is now a core skill of medicine yet it’s unavailable in Canowindra” Kerby said; “This machine would be for everyone in the community and will impact on members of families directly or indirectly, sooner or later, so please donate generously.”
An entry level machine of reasonable quality requires around $40,000 however this price will see a significant jump at the end of this month so it’s a race against the clock. If you’d like to help, donations can be made to Canowindra Hospital Auxiliary at PO Box 114 or at www.gofundme.com/yhs3yv5d.