REDEVELOPMENT on Ballarat Health Services’ Base Hospital children’s ward should start within weeks.
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BHS foundation and fundraising director Geoff Millar said the final dates were yet to be confirmed, but young patients would be moved to a new, temporary ward next month.
While the existing ward has leading technology, magical corridor lighting and bright surrounds, space is cramped and interiors are outdated.
Plans for the new ward will modernise facilities in a completely practical child-friendly way, right down to colour choice.
Fundraising efforts for the children’s ward are stepping up a notch with health charity Give Me 5 for Kids pursuing an ambitious BHS target of almost $50,000 for five IntelliVue paediatric-specific patient monitoring units. The monitors feature touchscreen for commands and to deliver reliable communication of patient data.
A shortage of the high-technology, intuitive units can mean children who need the monitors are sent to Melbourne for treatment.
Give Me 5 for Kids has confirmed it will make a $20,000 donation next month, topped up with whatever additional fundraising it can make.
Mr Millar said the fundraising effort was shaping up as one of the biggest yet.
“I think we’re well on our way to achieving our target with Give Me 5 for Kids,” Mr Millar said.
“These monitors will really come into play when the redevelopment is finished but we will purchase them as soon as we can – they are a really integral part of the children’s ward.”
Fundraising efforts will include $1 from every candy bar combo sold at Regent Cinemas in June donated to the target.
Farmers Arms Hotel in Creswickis hosting a bumper charity auction on June 16 with live entertainment.
The auction will feature three Polaris quad bikes and a weekend drive of a Ford Mustang V8 via Eclipse Ford.
Also up for grabs is a Fastrack V8 racing experience, an AFL corporate box, a three-night Murray River cruise and a seven-night family stay in Fiji.
Mr Millar said the charity had added lots of much-needed equipment and updates to the children’s ward in the past but this effort was on a completely different scale.
Redevelopment works for the children’s ward are also much anticipated by the Run Ballarat movement.
Run Ballarat’s community walk and run events have raised more than $1 million for the children’s ward the past five years.
Auction tickets are available at the Farmers Arms and also online at giveme5forkids.com.au.