Scales sought for heart patients

HEARTBEAT Ballarat is looking for donations of scales to help prevent heart failure emergencies and ease pressure on hospitals.

Their aim is to collect 100 scales in 100 days, with 10 scales already donated on the first day of the campaign which was last Tuesday.

The organisation is looking for digital body scales such as the Brilliant Basics Digital Bathroom Scale from Big W, the Electronic Glass Scale from Target, or the Slimline Glass Digital Bathroom Scale from Kmart.

“Heart failure patients take a drug called Lasix which controls fluid and they weigh and record their weight so their cardiac nurse can adjust the medication,” said Heartbeat Ballarat member Barry Nixon.

“It prevents rehospitalisation and heart failure patients becoming seriously unwell.”

The same campaign was conducted earlier this year, but Grampians Health contacted Heartbeat Ballarat to say they have already exhausted the supply.

Mr Nixon said it’s essential there are scales available to the vulnerable to decrease the burden on the healthcare system.

“There’s a number of patients who live remotely, are elderly or really unwell and don’t have families who can shop for them,” he said.

“These scales reduce the burden on the health system because it prevents hospital readmissions as the patient doesn’t become seriously unwell by fluid retention.”

To donate a set of scales contact Mr Nixon on 0447 377 159