FUNDED - Eye saving equipment for Ingham Hospital

Thanks to tireless fundraising by locals, the Ingham Hospital now has its very own tonometer.

Helen Shaw, Allied Health Assistant at Ingham Hospital has been the team leader for the fundraising effort, raising funds for local North Queensland charity, Brighter Lives. Helen said they are so grateful for the community support, adding, “we aimed to raise funds for items that can be used right here in Ingham, keeping care close to home.”

A tonometer helps measure the pressure inside your eye and is useful in providing early diagnosis of several conditions. The handheld device will be used in the emergency department to help with earlier diagnosis and prevent unnecessary transfer to Townsville University Hospital, helping keep locals closer to home, as well as close to family and support people.

“If left untreated, pressure behind the eyes can cause permanent blindness,” Helen said. “Now we have the tonometer, we can quickly assess a patient and diagnose the issue right here in Ingham, without patients having to travel to Townsville.”

The fundraising efforts have supported Brighter Lives, a local North Queensland charity that helps with the extras needed at Townsville Hospital and Health Service to ensure patients have the brightest stay possible when in hospital.

“Many fundraising activities supported this campaign, including trivia nights and raffles. Thank you so much to the Ingham community for supporting us to bring this important equipment here to Ingham,” Helen said.

“Thanks to the generous support of locals, we now look forward to many years of this tonometer being used in Ingham to treat locals.”