Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Joanne Pierce with Lilli Pilli Ladies’ Judy Saul and Michelle Wilcox, who also is a Palliative Care Nurse, and the sensor mats that help to keep patients safe.
Lilli Pilli Ladies are passionate about helping locals
Sep 11, 2020The Macleay’s hardworking Lilli Pilli Ladies have presented Kempsey District Hospital with a vital piece of medical equipment for seriously ill patients.
Two sensor mats, valued at $750, are making hospital stays for palliative care patients much safer.
The mats for a chair and a bed use wireless technology to alert nursing staff if a patient is attempting to move. Nurses can return to their patient to assist them out of bed or out of a chair, potentially eliminating the risk of a fall.
Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Joanne Pierce said the device was a much-welcomed addition to the unit.
“We are so very grateful to the Lilli Pilli Ladies for their ongoing support of patients at Kempsey District Hospital, and their latest donation is certainly making a difference to our seriously ill patients and their families,” Ms Pierce said.
“Thank you seems completely inadequate given the difference this device makes to care and wellbeing of our patients but we are so thankful to the ladies.”
Lilli Pilli president Judy Saul said the Ladies’ ever-popular Afternoon Tea at Sherwood Hall helped fund the donation.
“Raising funds to purchase medical equipment has become a real passion for the local group of ladies,” Ms Saul said.
“Their goal is always to help local cancer patients, who may be travelling a rough journey due to ill health, and, if able, extend a helping hand to those experiencing other medical issues.”
The annual Afternoon Tea at Sherwood features cups of tea, scrumptious cakes, all made by Lilli Pilli Ladies and Friends, raffles, auctions and a lot of laughs.
“The Lilli Pilli Ladies have some very generous supporters donating not just funds but time which is certainly appreciated, and we thank them,” Ms Saul said.
“Last October’s event saw the local cake decorators donate a substantial amount which has helped us to purchase the sensor mats for the Palliative Care Unit at Kempsey Hospital.”
Funds raised on the day also enabled Lilli Pilli Ladies to purchase two Niki Pumps, which deliver precise, constant doses of medication for pain relief or symptom management over a 24-hour period, for the Palliative Care Unit.
“COVID has put a dampener on this year’s event but be assured Kempsey Lilli Pilli Ladies will be back when restrictions are lifted allowing us to raise funds for our local health facilities to purchase much needed medical equipment,” Ms Saul said.
The Lilli Pilli Ladies have raised about $40,000 over the past four years to provide vital equipment to Kempsey and Port Macquarie hospitals.