Thanks to the generous support of the West Moreton community, an incredible $65,695 has been raised to help local lung disease patients.
These funds, raised as part of IHF’s 2024 Winter Appeal, will be used to purchase a highly specialised ultrasound machine for the Respiratory Department at Ipswich Hospital.
Lung disease knows no boundaries. More than 7,000 appointments are offered each year at Ipswich Hospital’s Respiratory Department for lung conditions and diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lower and upper respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, interstitial lung disease, occupational lung disease, sleep-related disorders and more.
Additionally, on average, 137 people a year are diagnosed with lung cancer in West Moreton, with forecasting predicting that this number will increase to more than 250 new cases a year by 2025.
A complication of lung cancer or other respiratory diseases can be fluid in the lungs. The new ultrasound machine will assist clinicians in identifying this fluid, while providing pinpoint visibility for biopsies and the insertion of drainage tubes.
Having a dedicated ultrasound machine will also enable the Respiratory Department team to perform bedside ultrasounds, reducing the need to transfer patients to other parts of the hospital.
To everyone who donated, your wonderful support goes beyond providing equipment. You are helping to improve safety, flexibility, efficiency and patient-centric care – improving outcomes for when it matters most.
Thank you.
Scott Young, CEO.
Respiratory Department team at Ipswich Hospital
