An incredibly generous donation of more than $50,000 from the Paynesville Op Shop Committee will fund the full purchase price of a new and potentially life-saving piece of equipment for Bairnsdale Regional Health Service's (BRHS) Emergency Department.
The op shop committee last week presented BRHS with a cheque for $53,978 for a new Hamilton T1 ventilator.
This will be the second Hamilton T1 unit in the BRHS ED, which means ED staff can give breathing assistance to more than one patient at a time.
The units offer multiple ventilation phases for patients who are unable to breathe on their own, who can breathe but need assistance and those who need moistened air if they need longer-term ventilation therapy.
BRHS chief executive officer, Vicki Farthing, said the second T1 ventilation offered much more flexibility and improved patient care.

IMAGE: Members of the Paynesville Op Shop Committee celebrate their donation with afternoon tea. In front, from left, president Tamara Sproule, committee member Irene Thexton and Vice President Carole Dennison. At rear, committee members Sue Gaffney, Marg Stam, Lois Thomson, John Stewart, Sheila Stokes, Judy Morris, Marilyn Wilson and Linda Callahan. (PS)