Cardiology patients at Goulburn Valley Health will reap the benefits of eight new Holter Monitors, thanks to a generous donation of $18800 from GV Heartbeat.
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The money, raised through raffles, barbecues, can collecting and community donations, was used to purchase new and improved monitors for the hospital, which record heart rhythms and patterns to detect any underlying issues.
GV Heartbeat member Gerald Quinn said the group decided to raise money for the purchase after struggling to locate a monitor for his own use.
‘‘I had heart issues last year and the last thing on my list was the monitor so I came in to book it and they said there was a three-week delay and I was pretty annoyed,’’ Mr Quinn said.
‘‘They said we only have four monitors now the others are all broken or out of action ... so I had to wait three weeks and at the next (GV Heartbeat) meeting I mentioned that they were short of monitors and that’s how it all started.’’
GV Health cardiac technologist Aaron Giles thanked GV Heartbeat for the donation, saying the monitors had an improved system and recording software which would allow results to be analysed straight away.
‘‘It means people can get in faster; if they were on the waitlist some of the time they would have to go down to Melbourne to get in faster down there, now they don’t have to make that trip, they can just have it at home,’’ he said.
Mr Quinn said GV Heartbeat was proud to be able to support cardiology patients in the community, with the group aiming to support people with heart disease and their family and friends.
GV Heartbeat secretary Robyn Fennell said the group currently had 85 members and met regularly each month for social activities, walking groups and guest speakers.
‘‘It’s an opportunity for people with a chronic illness to get together and get the motivation to make the changes, particularly with cardiac disease, you must make life changes to prevent any further occurrence of your cardiac problems,’’ Ms Fennell said.
‘‘Our secondary role is fundraising for GV Health for cardiac and emergency services ... these monitors will benefit the whole Goulburn Valley community to aid diagnosis — cardiac treatment has to be very timely.’’