A new $35,000 medical transport cart will today (Tuesday Sept 15th) be inspected at Shellharbour Hospital.
The cart, designed to move emergency and other patients in safety and comfort on the hospital grounds was purchased
with a donation by McDonalds Illawarra.
Site Manager/ Director of Nursing at Shellharbour Hospital Narelle Gleeson said the cart, inspired by sporting injury
carts seen at professional events, will be a great benefit to the hospital.
“It will primarily be used to transport patients requiring transfer for Intensive Care treatment from the Emergency
Department to the Helipad - currently this is being done by the Ambulance Service,“ Ms Gleeson said.
“It will also be utilised to transport sick patients from detached buildings on the Hospital grounds to the main hospital.
“The donation to fund this cart by McDonalds is greatly appreciated and will help improve the care, safety and comfort of patients
at our Hospital,” Ms Gleeson said.
Licensee of McDonald’s Warilla, Glenn Dwarte is pleased to present the medical transport cart to Shellharbour Hospital.
“On behalf of McDonald’s Illawarra, we are extremely thrilled to officially hand over the medical cart to Shellharbour Hospital,"
Mr Dwarte said.
“We believe it is important as restaurant owners to support the community that supports you, and we hope that this donation
will not only help to save the lives of people here in the Illawarra, but also help to save the hospital in ambulance
running costs."
The cart was constructed in the USA and supplied by Spacepac industries in Wollongong.
All the Hospital's Wardspersons have been trained to operate the cart. They will drive the vehicle from the doors of the
Emergency Department to the helipad when a medical retrieval is required – it is anticipated that several patients a week
will be transported.
The cart has an added benefit of relieving an ambulance crew from being called to transport patients within the Hospital
grounds and potentially being delayed while waiting for a helicopter to arrive.
Media: meet at the main doors of Shellharbour Hospital at 10am.
Media Enquiries: David Brown 4253 4859 or 0434 327 954
