MORE than $60,000 worth of medical equipment for Mareeba Hospital will be a significant parting gift for a local couple.
Leslie and Anne Mills are soon to leave their Tablelands home to move closer to family in Cairns but said they wanted to make one last significant donation to their local hospital of the past 38 years.
Since 2012, they have donated $160,000 worth of equipment to Mareeba Hospital.
Funded through the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, the equipment includes an i-STAT machine for theatre/maternity, two vital signs monitors, a hoist to help lift frail elderly people, a bladder scanner and a hoverjack for bariatric patients.
Mareeba Hospital director of nursing and midwifery Vickye Coffee said staff and patients were very grateful for the purchases.
“Donations such as these help us continue to provide exceptional care to the Mareeba community,” Mrs Coffee said.
“This equipment uses the latest technology on a number of levels – the vital signs monitor provides accurate, up-to-date and efficient patient data to ensure ongoing patient safety when observations are taken. This helps us make timely decisions about patient care changes when needed. Having the latest technology provides on-the-spot information so that decision-making supports best practice care,” she said.
“Having a new bladder scanner ensures patient comfort, supports bladder health and helps prevent bladder damage.
“The hoist and lifter ensure patient comfort and adds to the pleasure of being able to care for patients with the latest equipment,” she said.
Foundation CEO Tony Franz said it was rewarding to see community-spirited donations like this, making a real difference to patient outcomes.
“And it’s important to show that the Foundation not only supports the Cairns Hospital, but also the outlying centres. These purchases can mean less people have to be transported to Cairns in critical conditions – they can stay in their home community surrounded by loved ones for longer, and it’s less physical stress on the staff as well. We are eternally grateful to Mr and Mrs Mills for their generosity to their community,” Mr Franz said.

PHOTO: Mareeba Shire Council's Angela Toppin, Mareeba Hospital's Michelle Bombardieri, Robyn George, Leslie and Anne Mills, and Mareeba Hospital's Vickye Coffey.