Coronavirus Melbourne: donations to Eastern Health prepare hospitals
An overwhelming amount of financial support from a thankful community is helping hospitals in Melbourne’s east, including Box Hill and Ringwood East, prepare for coronavirus’ peak. The money has been used to buy vital medial equipment to save lives.
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People and businesses in Melbourne’s east have reached deep into their pockets to help public hospitals prepare for the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Donations have been pouring into Eastern Health Foundation’s new Agility Response Fund, which has surpassed $131,000 just three weeks after it was created to get more medical equipment for the east.
Director Jason Smith said the foundation was “really overwhelmed” by the community’s response, and had already been able to buy its first wish list of equipment to bolster hospitals.
Eastern Health will soon receive 16 vital signs monitors for Box Hill Hospital, and two glidescopes, which help doctors insert breathing tubes, for Box Hill Hospital and Maroondah Hospital.
“They’re on the way to the wards now,” Mr Smith said.
“Things are moving quickly.”
Mr Smith said Eastern Health was delighted by the support shown for its doctors and nurses who were on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.
“It’s incredibly encouraging and uplifting,” he said.
Mr Smith said while support was coming from all corners of the community, it was particularly touching to see such strong support from the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse.
The association has made a donation as an organisation and has also been encouraging its members to donate individually, with many cash injections coming from donors with Chinese surnames.
Mr Smith the association was a longstanding supporter of Eastern Health, having helped buy medical machines in the past, but said the association’s efforts were especially kind considering many businesses in Box Hill had been suffering a downturn since January.
“Businesses in Box Hill have done it very tough,” he said.
“We’re really appreciative of this donation at what is a challenging time for them.”
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The foundation has also been touched by the many donors who have taken to leaving messages of thanks and appreciation for hospital staff.
“I hope you and your family all are safe,” donor, Yue, wrote.
“Thanks for your work! We appreciate you!” Xu wrote.
The support for the fund has been strong and continuous, but with the number of COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalisation expected to reach a peak in Melbourne in June, Mr Smith said donations needed to keep coming.
Staff from the emergency departments and intensive care units at Box Hill, Maroondah and Angliss Hospitals have drawn up a second list of items needed to help manage a spike in hospitalisations.
They’re after a further $335,000 to buy two video laryngoscopes to help insert breathing tubes, a portable transport ventilator and two heart lung bypass machines to support patients with lung failure, and nine iPads to help ICU patients connect to the outside world.
Donations are free of an administration fee and can be made here.