Birthing suite boost for Goulburn Hospital worth $50,000

Goulburn Hospital’s new maternity suite is a step closer to completion following an injection of $50,000.

The money was the result of a one-off state government grant to be used to buy two new birthing beds for the facility.

BDCU Goulburn Hospital Fundraising Inc members submitted the grant, and president Nerida Cullen said they were both lucky and proud to have received the much-needed funds for the beds.

“They are absolutely, totally new, probably better than what they’ve got in Canberra,” she said.

They’ll be placed in the hospital’s new maternity unit, which was completed as part of the $165 million redevelopment of the Goulburn Hospital and Health Service.

“There are two huge birthing rooms with a birthing bath, the beds, provisions for the partner and family to be there while the mother is giving birth,” Ms Cullen said.

“They’ve been cheerfully decorated and they’re just stunning.”

Southern NSW Local Health District chief Margaret Bennett was also pleased the grant had been secured.

“The new birthing beds are a wonderful addition to Goulburn Hospital’s maternity ward,” she said.

“They will support women to choose their birthing position at every stage of labour, maximising safety and comfort.”

The BDCU Goulburn Hospital Fundraising Inc has been behind major fundraising efforts for the hospital, raising more than $500,000 since its inception in 2008.

Other equipment provided included breast pumps, a bariatric lifter to help nurses manoeuvre patients, a tilt-tray table for physiotherapy worth more than $20,000 and a blanket warmer, which was one of Ms Cullen’s favourite purchases.

“It’s as good as being cuddled by your mum,” she said.

They are also about to deliver a new hearing booth to the hospital.

The committee helped raise money specifically for what the health facility needed and their work is far from over.

They’ve recently been asked to raise money to buy the hospital a non-invasive continuous hemodynamic monitor, which employs a finger cuff to keep an eye on a patient’s blood pressure and helps to detect issues such as sepsis and stroke.

The equipment is worth about $69,000.

The group aims to hold three major fundraising efforts a year, which includes their Dancing with the Starz event as well as trivia nights, fun runs and movies under the stars.

“It’s going to take us some time, we’ve definitely got a challenge,” Ms Cullen said.

“We’re a very small committee and money is hard to come by, but we do our best.”

The BDCU Goulburn Hospital Fundraising Inc’s next event will be held on Friday 14 October, with a trivia night at the Goulburn Workers Club.

Meanwhile, construction is underway on the final stage of the hospital’s redevelopment.

Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman said the final works would expand the clinical services on offer, refurbish areas within the old hospital and transfer existing services into new spaces.

“Over the next 12 months refurbishment works within the existing hospital will be completed providing upgraded spaces for ambulatory outpatient services, oncology, Aboriginal health, and pathology,” she said.

“We’ll also be relocating some of the remaining clinical services from the Bourke Street Health Service to the Goulburn Hospital Campus, to make it easier for the community to access the health services they need in the one location.”

The final works stage features:

• Ambulatory outpatients – including physiotherapy and occupational therapy, hospital in the home, wound clinics, stress testing and audiometry
• Oncology
• Aboriginal health
• A transitional living unit
• A new MRI service
• A clinical training facility – part of the ANU redevelopment
• Upgraded carparking off Albert Street to cater for renal, oncology and ambulatory outpatients
• Staff workspaces

The final works are expected to be completed by late 2023.