AFTER three years of fundraising, the Friends of Murray District Hospital have donated an ice machine to the hospital to enhance patient comfort.
Friends president Rae Endersby said the effort had been worth it.
“The ice machine was a big item for us, taking three years to raise more than $5000 but we knew it would make a real difference to patients,’’ she said.
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READ NOWThe dispenser has been donated to Ward 1 who look after a range of patients including those in palliative care, awaiting a care placement, maintenance patients and rehabilitation patients.
It is being used in several ways, allowing patients to have icy cold drinks and for those who cannot swallow, the ice is used to moisten their lips and mouth.
Hospital Acting Nurse Unit manager Chris Warfield said the machine had been a great benefit to patients and staff.
“Our patients are truly seeing the benefits of such a generous donation,’’ she said.
The volunteer group plays an important role in the hospital, holding bric-a-brac stalls, organising raffles, providing care packs and visiting patients with a trolley full of goodies.
Rae, a hospital volunteer for 27 years, said the role of the Friends was to provide additional support to enhance the patient experience.
“The hospital gives us a wish list of items they would like and as a team, we assess and determine what we would like to raise money for,’’ she said.
In a generous turn of events, the Friends received a grant from local op-shop Mayday, who covered the cost of the ice machine, leaving the volunteers with the funds raised to donate to the hospital in a different way.