Committee for Lorne: Lorne Community Hospital, Your Donations make a Difference

Lorne Community Hospital launched its 2018 Annual Appeal with the theme ‘Together we can build a healthier community.’

Your support assisted us to touch the lives of hundreds of people each year – people who maybe facing an urgent health need, a devastating disease, experiencing the joy of raising children, or sadly, saying goodbye.

For the 2018 appeal, the hospital’s clinical staff identified two needs; one need with immediate impact (equipment and facilities fund), and one need with long-term impact (active community fund).

The hospital is very pleased to report that more than $150,000 was raised to support our two funds, allowing the hospital to provide great care for our community, a purpose that continues to drive our commitment and passion.

Two hundred and sixty five people contributed to the appeal and without doubt the most significant contribution again came from the Lorne Op Shop. The support for the Op Shop, the work of its volunteers and the choices made by its
Executive team over many years, allows them to continue to fund so many of our major and minor projects. The LCH
board of management and staff cannot thank the Lorne Op Shop enough for their generous donations.

Equipment and Facilities Fund
With a generous $55,000 funds donated to this area, the hospital was able to purchase a portable resus monitor, to enable rapid reporting in critical conditions. This piece of equipment is vital in the care of critically ill patients. It allows our staff to continually monitor patient’s vital signs and cardiac rhythm, whilst stabilising them for transfer.

“This life saving piece of equipment is used on a daily basis and our recently updated machine has provided more functions, allowing us to closely monitor our critically ill patients. The nursing staff cannot thank you enough for your kind donations”, LCH nurse Jane Wilkeson said.

A number of other smaller items were also purchased for the urgent care unit.

Active Community Fund
Keeping our community active is one of the hospital’s key goals. With this in mind, your donations have allowed the hospital to inject funds into increasing our exercise physiologist and physiotherapy exercise classes, purchase much needed
gym equipment and funds have also been donated back into the community to support health and wellbeing activities, such as Lorne Parkrun.

“As a direct result from the annual appeal donations, I was able to implement a Monday morning weekly walk group around Louttit Bay. This has been a great opportunity for locals to meet new people, gather some of my exercise tips and more importantly have fun”, LCH physiotherapist Bill Reynolds said.

General Fund
As with any annual appeal, donors can simply place money into the general fund, which allows the hospital to direct funds
towards areas of need. These funds are spent on staff training and education and minor Hospital works.

We thank you again for your support of our Annual Appeal. This appeal allows the hospital to provide the extra services, equipment and programs that are not covered by government.

Katy Kennedy
LCH Fundraising Co-ordinator