Wollongong Hospital has received a major boost to critical supplies which will help save lives and protect staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to an Austinmer-based charitable foundation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Tibra Capital Foundation on Thursday handed over $250,000 worth of lifesaving equipment to hospital staff, including six ventilators, 24,000 specialty and surgical masks and 1000 gowns.
Corrimal resident, and foundation committee member, Arman Schwarz said the foundation was funded by parent company, Tibra - a financial services company which started in 2006 in the northern suburbs and now has offices in Sydney and London.
It was through one of the company's UK contacts that the foundation members were able to source hard-to-find personal protective equipment.
"We have a contact in the tailoring industry in London, who had converted their factories to produce hospital PPE when the COVID outbreak started in Wuhan," Mr Schwarz said. "So they were able to produce the masks and gowns for us."
Mr Schwarz said when the COVID-19 threat started to intensify, the foundation had met with Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District emergency clinical nurse consultant Professor Kate Curtis to see what local hospitals needed.
"The COVID crisis has been so catastrophic and has impacted so many people," he said. "Sourcing these items was one way we could contribute really meaningfully. We know the PPE, the ventilators and other machines we've been able to source will save lives."
ISLHD board chair Professor Denis King and chief executive Margot Mains said the contribution would significantly boost the district's capacity during the pandemic.
"We will receive six additional ventilators; 24,000 speciality and surgical masks; spot monitors; and high flow oxygen machines, which we are incredibly grateful to receive," Prof King said.
"Further to this, three ventilators that the Tibra Capital Foundation donated to Wollongong Private Hospital have also been made available for use at Wollongong Hospital.
"To have the Tibra Capital Foundation make such a major contribution to local services during this time is truly fantastic. It is greatly appreciated by our staff and our entire community.
"We know it will make a huge difference to supporting our efforts in dealing with the challenging times ahead."
Ms Mains said sourcing additional equipment that was in short supply world-wide had been difficult for health care providers across the globe.
"To have not only the funds but also the manpower to help procure these goods has been an absolute blessing," she said. "We are incredibly thankful to everyone at Tibra for their work in securing and funding these vital supplies."
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we aim to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.