Refurbishments to the oncology unit and the Muswellbrook Hospital are progressing well according to Dr Debbie Jagger, acting Upper Hunter Cluster general manager.
“At this point in time we are undertaking building works to the unit, including painting and wiring of the treatment unit, staff office facilities and waiting room,” Dr Jagger said.
“Fixtures and fittings for the refurbishment are being finalised and the committee is hopeful of completion of the refurbishment by Christmas,” she said.
“All money raised as part of oncology unit fundraising efforts will be used in the refurbishment and beautification of the oncology unit, and for the upgrading of oncology equipment, ongoing maintenance to the unit, and new fixtures and fittings
“This includes soft furnishings, wall hangings and frosted glass panelling which will improve natural light flow and outlook from the room,” she said.
“Any money which is not used in this stage of development will be put into an account for the designated use of the future oncology expenditure,” Dr Jagger said.
After consultation with hospital staff and the community it was decided the best location for the treatment room was on the second floor of the Muswellbrook District Health Service, where the former chemotherapy unit was located.
According to Wendy O’Connell, who led the fundraising efforts, the room was not the first choice, but was the best choice for the patients.
“There was another room that we were looking at that would have been beautiful, but then we realised that the bathrooms were too far from it,” Mrs O’Connell said.
“For chemotherapy patients it’s really important that they are close to the bathroom during treatment, and in the first room they would have had to walk down the corridors with their drips, past the lifts and general traffic to get to the public toilet, which wasn’t acceptable,” she said. “Whereas with the other room the patients can have access to a private bathroom, just for their use and that they don’t have to walk down a long corridor to.
“It’s a much better option for them,” Mrs O’Connell said.
Dr Jagger praised the local community saying it was a phenomenal fundraising effort, and that the health service was very grateful.