Two Strykers are out

Patients at Grampians Health’s Stawell campus can be transported around the hospital in extra comfort after the purchase of two Stryker wheelchairs. 

A $10,000 donation from Stawell Ladies Auxiliary has paid for the chairs which are designed to provide more comfort and ease of use for both patients and nurses pushing them. The chairs have been distributed to Urgent/Acute Care and the Operating Suite. 

Stawell Urgent Care and Simpson Wing Nurse Unit Manager Amy Yole said the Stryker chairs replaced the old wheelchairs they had been previously using. 

“These chairs are far superior to a regular wheelchair,” Ms Yole said. “For the patient they are much easier to get in and out of and for the nurse or orderly pushing them, they are much more manoeuverable. 

“They are designed to push easily on any surface, including carpet.” 

Ms Yole said she was very grateful to receive the chairs and thanked the Stawell Ladies Auxiliary. 

“Fundraising groups like the auxiliary are very important to us because they make sure we are using the latest equipment which is great for the medical team and provides better health outcomes and comfort for our patients,” she said. 

Grampians Health Chief People Officer Claire Woods also thanked the Ladies Auxiliary for their continued support. 

“One of the goals of the voluntary amalgamation was to ensure money raised in a particular community would be spent on that community’s health service and that has always remained the case,” Ms Woods said.