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Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) is very grateful to local real estate company, Boettchers Estate Agents for its generous donation of $1,000 to the Children’s Christmas Appeal. The Appeal is raising funds for much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.

Adam Boettcher, Director of Boettchers Estate Agents, said the company is always looking for opportunities to give back to the community, “ We think it’s important to donate to a good cause in our community and create positive change in the lives of others.’’

“Our team includes many parents, and we have children ourselves. In the past six months, I have seen many people affected by something in some way. It’s hard on families and kids. We believe that Christmas is a time for giving back to our community, and the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal is a worthy cause that benefits children in need.

“We want to thank our community for supporting our business and we hope this donation will inspire others to give back as well”, said Mr. Boettcher.

The Special Care Nursery provides specialised care for many premature or ill babies. However, they are in need of more resuscitation equipment in order to respond to the growing needs in the region, including cardiac monitors, resuscitation cots and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “The generosity of local businesses is one of the things that makes Ipswich such a great city. And this donation from Boettchers Estate Agents will make a huge difference to local families by providing babies born at Ipswich Hospital with the care and equipment they need here, so they don’t need to travel for specialist treatment outside our region.

“The support provided by this initiative will directly improve the function and capacity of our local hospitals.

“Thank you to Boettcher’s Estate Agents for helping us move closer to our goal,” Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

Local sports association, Ipswich Parents and Old Boys (IPOB) has generously donated $3,000 to Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s (IHF) Children’s Christmas Appeal. The Appeal is raising funds for much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.

The Special Care Nursery provides specialised care for many premature or ill babies. However, they need more resuscitation equipment to respond to the growing needs in the region including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

Brad McCoombes, IPOB Secretary, said, “It was a great opportunity for our association to support IHF and its mission of delivering quality healthcare for the Ipswich and West Moreton region.’’

“We at the IPOB, are always on the lookout for opportunities to give back to the ‘Community’ for very worthy and beneficial causes, such as the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal.

“This is our way of showing our appreciation of the ever-present need to help provide better health services and equipment needed by the valuable staff to carry out the life-saving treatment for our most vulnerable at Ipswich Hospital’s Special Nursery Care”, said Mr. McCoombes.

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “This incredible donation from IPOB, shows the generosity of local community groups. It will make a huge difference to local families by providing babies born at Ipswich Hospital with the care and equipment they need here, so they don’t need to travel for specialist treatment outside our region.

“This support will directly improve the function and capacity of our local hospitals.

“Thanks to IPOB, we now are one step closer to our goal,” Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

The IPOB was initially formed in 1964 and for over 50 years has been able to offer support Under 11 and Under 12 Ipswich Rugby League teams embark on southern tours and become a reality for players that may not be able to tour.

Over the years, fundraising from within the membership of the club has been many and varied from the humble meat tray and chook raffles at various locations, Bingo nights, Minor Art Unions to current day with weekly meat raffles at North Ipswich RSL now Club Services Ipswich and also supported by assistance through sponsorship and donations from within the Ipswich District. The IPOB is always on the lookout for new members. For more information, please call Brad McCoombes at 0447 385 008.

Over the 2022 Christmas period, Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) Volunteers prepared beautifully wrapped gifts at Riverlink Shopping Centre so shoppers could shop longer and rest easy at Christmas!

Scott Young, CEO of IHF, said the partnership with Riverlink Shopping Centre is so valuable to IHF.

“Thanks to Riverlink Shopping Centre and our wonderful volunteers that help us raise funds to purchase much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery!

“We aim to raise $150,000 with all funds raised going towards equipment including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

“Shoppers can show their support by getting their gifts wrapped at our gift-wrapping station or making a tax-deductible cash donation there. Your donation will make a huge difference to local families, allowing them to get the best possible care closer to home.”  Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) has launched a Children’s Christmas Appeal to raise funds for purchasing much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.

Ipswich Hospital Director of Paediatrics Dr. John Waugh said more than 3000 babies were born at Ipswich Hospital in the past 12 months, and one in four of those babies spent time in the Special Care Nursery.

“Of these 785 newborns, 210 were born prematurely, and many families had to travel to a more specialised hospital for extra care outside the West Moreton region,” Dr. Waugh said.

“Our Special Care Nursery provides specialised care for many premature or ill babies. However, this additional resuscitation equipment will help us to respond to the growing needs in our region and improve functionality.

“We want to provide the babies born at Ipswich Hospital with the care and equipment they require here, so fewer babies need to travel for specialist medical care outside the region.”

IHF CEO Scott Young said they aimed to raise $150,000 for the Special Care Nursery.

“All funds raised will go towards equipment including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot, and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns. This equipment will work in conjunction with the equipment already used in the special care nursery enabling more babies born in the region with unexpected medical issues to be able to stay here to receive the care they need.

“You can show your support by making a tax-deductible cash donation or purchasing a raffle ticket through our website. Your donation will make a huge difference to local families, allowing them to get the best possible care closer to home.”  Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

140 members of the community gathered at Brothers Leagues Club to raise funds for breast cancer care in the West Moreton region on Friday, marking the official Go Pink Day.

The Go Pink breakfast, held by Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) in partnership with Brothers Leagues Club, was an opportunity for the community to come together and Go Pink!

Guests enjoyed a plated breakfast, guest speeches, multi-draw raffles, and a prize for being best dressed.

Monica Vella, a formal breast cancer patient and West Moreton Health employee shared why every woman should not play down the importance of a routine breast screen.

“I was feeling well and experienced no symptoms whatsoever, so I can honestly say that having the routine breast screen saved my life.

“My cancer was detected early, which gave me more treatment options and better outcomes.

“Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women. Don’t think that it can’t happen to you, as it can happen to anyone,” Ms Vella said.

Vanessa Brown, one of the guests said, “I enjoyed today’s event. It made me think about breast cancer. It can happen to people randomly. It’s important to support people and their families suffering from breast cancer in our community.”

Julie Draper, another guest said, “Some people don’t want to know about breast cancer, but this event makes us sit down and consider the importance of breast cancer prevention.”

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “The IHF Go Pink campaign is all about raising money and awareness for breast cancer care in the West Moreton region. It’s great to see the West Moreton community get behind the IHF Go Pink campaign because everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer.

“On behalf of the foundation, thank you to everyone who helped raise funds for breast cancer care in the West Moreton region,” said Mr. Young.

IHF is a trusted community partner supporting West Moreton Health to deliver safe, quality healthcare promoting community health and wellbeing. To learn more about IHF Go Pink, please visit: https://go-pink.ihfoundation.org.au/events .

Ipswich Quota members raised $1,500 from their Go Pink Mystery Bus Tour and donated the proceeds to the Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s Go Pink campaign, which funds breast cancer care in the West Moreton region.

Janette Adams, a member of Ipswich Quota said that 61 people attended the Go Pink Mystery Bus Tour last Saturday. The tour included a “pink” morning tea at Harrisville and a winery visit and shopping at Boonah.

Mrs. Adams said, “What a great way to spend a dismal rainy day and support the local charity! The wet weather meant a couple of stops couldn’t happen, but a great day was had by everyone.”

Support is still needed for local breast cancer patients and choosing to ‘Go Pink’ with the Hospital Foundation is a great way to show support locally during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October).

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “We’re encouraging our community to ‘Go Pink’ with the Hospital Foundation this Breast Cancer Awareness Month to fund breast cancer care at West Moreton Health.”

“We need the support of our community and local businesses more than ever to raise much-needed funds for breast cancer care in our community.”

“With your support, we can make a local difference to the care of breast cancer patients in our community.”

“There are so many ways you can ‘Go Pink’ and make a local difference; like attending one of the many Go Pink Events, holding your own event like Ipswich Quota or simply donating online,” Mr Young said.

To Go Pink with the Hospital Foundation this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit https://go-pink.ihfoundation.org.au/ or phone 1300 736 428 to learn more, donate, attend an event, volunteer, purchase merchandise and more!

Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) brings the community together each October to raise awareness and to help raise funds for Breast Cancer care in the West Moreton region.

IHF Go Pink campaign is in its third year, and we are very proud that we have been successfully able to help fund medical research and specialised equipment for our local Breastscreen team.

This year we are fundraising to help BreastScreen in purchasing new equipment to provide gold class breast cancer care in the West Moreton region. You can help support this worthwhile cause and show your support by purchasing Go Pink merchandise, attending an event or making a donation via our website HERE

With the official Go Pink day on Friday 28 October, join us for our Go Pink breakfast being held at Brothers Leagues Club at 7am. Tickets are available on our website, with plenty of prizes to give away, an inspirational guest speaker and ample opportunities to network with likeminded community members. IHF will also be holding a community market day at the Ipswich Hospital in front of the Jubilee building between 10am – 2pm, all members of the public welcome.

Scott Young, the CEO of IHF said, “Breast cancer has become a major concern in recent years, with the number of reported cases rising steadily each year. We must encourage people to get screened regularly and ensure that they know how to spot potential signs of breast cancer at an early stage. Early detection really does save lives.”

“Another great way to support breast cancer care in our community is through peer-to-peer fundraising and purchasing Go Pink merchandise. We have launched a new peer-to-peer fundraising portal and online store, where you can get your very own fundraising webpage, share your story and purchase a range of Go Pink merchandise, such as shirts, stationery and skincare products,” said Scott.

IHF is a trusted community partner supporting West Moreton Health to deliver safe, quality healthcare promoting community health and wellbeing. To learn more about IHF Go Pink and secure your ticket, please visit: HERE

Counting her lucky stars that she is still here to celebrate her daughter’s wedding this month, Monica Vella shares why every woman should not play down the importance of a routine breast screen.

West Moreton Health Clinical Nurse, Ms Vella, 54, visited BreastScreen Queensland Ipswich for her routine screen last November with no signs that anything was wrong. A week later, she received a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Ms Vella said that routine screen saved her life.

“I was feeling well and experienced no symptoms whatsoever, so I can honestly say that having the routine breast screen saved my life,” Ms Vella said.

“My cancer was detected early, which gave me more treatment options and better outcomes.

“I had surgery to remove part of my left breast the same month and completed a month of radiation treatment in January, but didn’t require chemotherapy.

“West Moreton Health allows staff to schedule routine breast screens during work time and for that I am grateful,” she said.

The West Moreton resident urges all women, especially those aged over 40, to contact BreastScreen Queensland to schedule an appointment.

“Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women. Don’t think that it can’t happen to you, as it can happen to anyone.”

Ipswich Hospital Foundation is raising funds for breast cancer care in the region in October through Go Pink fundraising initiatives, events and merchandise sales during the month of October, raising funds for breast cancer care in the region – Go Pink with IHF

This month BreastScreen Queensland’s Ipswich Service location celebrates its 25th year anniversary.

About BreastScreen Queensland, Ipswich Service

A permanent site is located at Ipswich Health Plaza, Bell Street. Two mobile vans offering screening services at over 20 locations throughout West Moreton.

During the month of October, the mobile vans will be located at:

• Booval Fair Shopping Centre – Now – 22 October
• Riverlink Shopping Centre (car park under GoodLife Gym) – Now – 5 November
• Ipswich Hospital – 24– 28 October

Free screening and assessment are available to eligible women. A breast screen is recommended for women aged 50-74 every two years. Women aged 40-49 and 74+ are also eligible.

Saturday and out of hours appointments are available. To book call 13 20 50 or visit breastscreen.qld.gov.au

Author: Sharon Doyle

Patients at the Ipswich Hospital will soon enjoy better rehabilitation outcomes thanks to the support of the Australian Industry Trade College (Ipswich) and Bunnings Bundamba.

As part of Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s ongoing partnership with the Australian Industry Trade College (Ipswich), 13 students and staff commenced work on reinvigorating the Rehabilitation and Stroke Ward (6B) courtyard of Ipswich Hospital. This courtyard is a communal space for the ward staff, patients, and their families.

Jude Brown, the Rehab and Stroke Nurse Unit Manager, began the day by giving the students a talk about what their ward does, the types of patients they see, and the importance of having an outdoor space for patients and families to meet. Jude also talked about how outdoor areas and recreational activities like gardening can help improve the rehabilitation outcomes of the patients in their ward.

Karen Bethune, the Wards Recreation Officer, put on a barbeque lunch and morning tea for the students and staff from Australian Industry Trade College.

Bunnings Bundamba kindly donated plants and gardening supplies to the project, including a wheelchair-accessible raised garden bed and hand tools for patients to use as part of their rehabilitation.

This activity will be one of many ongoing projects where the AITC students will put their skills into practice and participate in the planning and execution of these projects, all whilst improving the outdoor spaces within West Moreton Health.

Contact us today and help make a big difference to our local public hospitals today.

With the support of the local community, Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) successfully funds a new fully equipped ultrasound machine for the Emergency Department at Ipswich Hospital.

Having the most up-to-date specialist equipment can mean the difference between life and death for patients being treated in the local public hospitals.

In 2014 the Emergency Department Director Dr. Kylie Baker completed a funded 2-year $200,000 study on the use of ultrasound in the Emergency Department to make an immediate diagnosis of heart and lung presentations. This study showed using ultrasound at that point could result in better, quicker diagnosis and reduce overall costs associated with unnecessary x-rays and longer delays in the Emergency Department.

However, as with most Emergency Departments throughout Queensland, there is usually no funding for a full ultrasound machine so most use point of care ultrasound, smaller devices with very limited functionality.

Generous community donations enabled IHF to purchase a Mindray TE9 Ultrasound machine for the Emergency Department. The new ultrasound machine will enable the local hospital to provide patients with world-class care, swifter diagnosis and the best possible treatment.

With the support from the local community and IHF, the Ipswich Emergency Department will be one of the few units in Queensland to have this full ultrasound capacity which includes a shared Service Package that includes Abdomen/General, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Cardiac, Small Parts, Urology, Vascular, Paediatric, Nerve, Emergency and Critical packages.

This is a fantastic example of IHF supporting good quality translational research by funding aspirational equipment that would never have been otherwise funded.

Greg Jensen, the Interim CEO of IHF said, “Delivering high quality care and giving patients access to the latest treatment options is paramount for the health and wellbeing of our community.

“Together with the support of our community, we will continue to fund equipment for hospitals and medical research facilities across the West Morton region.”

IHF is a trusted community partner supporting West Moreton Health to deliver safe, quality healthcare promoting community health and wellbeing.

The Foundation focus on engaging with a broad community to ensure it responds to the diverse growing needs of the West Moreton Region.

Make a donation and help make a big difference to our local public hospitals today.