Charity day supports maternal and child care

AN ANNUAL golf charity day has raised more then thirty thousand dollars for the maternity and paediatrics wards at the Ballarat Base Hospital.

The Adroit Insurance and Risk charity golf day was conducted in conjunction with the Ballarat Health Services Foundation and the money is set to go towards two new ultrasound-guided

cannulation devices.

The Ballarat Health Services Foundation donated an additional $48,000 to ensure the devices could be purchased.

The devices use ultrasound to guide the tip of a needle for cannulation, making the process safer, quicker and more accurate.

Cannulation is used to supply fluids, pain relief, antibiotics or other treatments and the device will make the process less difficult for patients who may have very small or hard to access veins.

Dr Austen Erasmus, co-head of paediatrics at Grampians Health said the devices were important for paediatric care.

“Last year at Ballarat Base Hospital, we had over 16,500 paediatric emergency department presentations, over 2,600 admissions to our children’s ward and 421 admissions to the special care nursery. These statistics reflect the fact that we care for the highest risk pregnancies and most unwell babies and children from Bacchus Marsh through to the South Australian border.

“Having access to these new ultrasound-guided cannulation devices will mean our staff can spend more time caring for patients and less time accessing veins.”

Carly Hibbins, managing principal with Adroit Insurance and Risk Ballarat, said it was wonderful to support this cause.

“For many years we have been working with Grampians Health Ballarat to support children through the purchase of equipment and services.

“These purchases are made possible by our close partnership with Grampians Health Ballarat, the Ballarat Health Services Foundation, and the incredible support of over 30 Ballarat businesses who generously donate to our annual golf day.”