Donation to ED improves eye care capacity

Grampians Health Horsham Emergency Department’s medical team now have the capacity to capture images of eye injuries and transfer them directly to specialists, thanks to a community donation.

Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation has donated $46,000 to purchase the high-quality Swiss-made examination microscope or ‘slit-lamp’. The device provides a 3D high magnification view of the eye.

ED Head of Unit Dr Peter Carter said the new slit lamp replaced a 20-year-old device that couldn’t display images or save them.

“This microscope has simpler use, more features and higher power and we now have the capacity to document and potentially send images as required.” Dr Carter said.

“It is getting used every single day in ED and it is also ideal for educating our junior doctors on eye injuries. We are very happy with this new acquisition and very grateful for it."

Dr Carter thanked the Foundation for its support.

“If we didn’t have the support from the Foundation, it would be very difficult to upgrade or increase our instrument stocks because there is such a great demand on the system,” he said.

“Funding groups such as the Foundation are just so important to us.”

Foundation director Richard Goudie said he was pleased the Foundation could provide the funding for such an important upgrade.

“This device wasn’t going to be funded by the Department so this is typically where we step in and help,” Mr. Goudie said.