MORE than 2000 people who bought candles at the Wodonga Carols By Candlelight have helped with the purchase of new equipment for Wodonga hospital that will improve the outcomes for patients with hip pain, back problems and pelvic floor issues.
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The $4600 raised will buy an ultrasound transducer so that physiotherapists can get real time ultrasound images of patients attending the hospital’s muscular-skeletal and continence clinics.
Pelvic floor physiotherapist Anne Patterson, said the transducer was a piece of equipment that would enable she and her colleagues to do their job better.
“It will enable us to better help our patients, particularly those who need improved core stability and suffer from hip pain or back problems, or pelvic floor issues including women after childbirth,” Ms Patterson said.
Wodonga Regional Health Service director of business services, Greg Pearl, said the new equipment would provide an enhancement of existing services.
“It is something very practical that may help some patients to avoid surgery and improve their quality of life,” he said.
Carols organiser Lindsay Hanchett said that during the past five years, close to $15,000 had been raised for the hospital in candle sales at the carols.
“It is not onerous and people are happy to buy the candles and throw in a little extra money,” he said.
“They feel good about coming to the carols with family and friends; they feel good about the entertainment and they feel good about giving us a donation.”
Mr Pearl said staff, board members and volunteers from the hospital had all been involved in the sale of the candles, selling out to the crowd of more than 10,000 before darkness fell.
“They are happy to come along and help and we use the funds for particular purchases,” he said.
“Last year it was district nursing, the year before it was inpatient rehabilitation.”
Ms Patterson said she and her physiotherapy colleagues had seen the opportunity to improve patients’ outcomes by nominating for the purchase of the ultrasound transducer.
“We quickly raised our hand and people were extremely generous,” she said.
“We have only had the ultrasound machine for six months.
“It is something new in the physiotherapy profession and we are lucky to have it at Wodonga hospital.
“We will use it more in physiotherapy in the future and we will be at the forefront.”
