The Barrhead Healthcare Centre is hoping to be able to make its palliative care patients a little more comfortable, with help from the public.
The Tree of Hope campaign is used by many hospitals and health care centres across Canada to raise money for much-needed initiatives or equipment.
Barrhead’s Tree of Hope campaign has been going on for at least the past 15 years and Linda Wolfram, Barrhead Healthcare Centre’s site manager, said they’ve bought a wide variety of equipment from Panda Warmers for newborns, scopes for the Endoscopy department and new microscopes for the laboratory.
The equipment the healthcare centre buys, through the Tree of Hope campaign, is chosen by a group of local doctors and nurses.
This year, the committee decided to purchase two specialized beds for the hospital’s palliative care rooms.
“We use these rooms for people who are moving towards the end of their journey in life and therefore the beds needed for these patients must be able to do tasks ordinary beds can’t, like being able to redistribute their weight by gently moving them by adjusting the air in the mattress,” she said, adding patients will be able to move from a lying position to sitting up at a touch of a button.
Like most medical equipment, Wolfram said the beds don’t come cheap, coming at a cost of $15,128 each.
“I know that is a lofty goal, but I am confident it is one we will be able to reach because the people of Barrhead have always been so generous and supportive,” she said.
To donate people can buy a light bulb for the ‘Tree of Hope’ for $10. As bulbs are purchased, strings of lights will be added to the tree. Ornaments for the tree are also available for donations of $250. People can also purchase three levels of stars, bronze, silver and gold for donations of $500, $1,000 and $2,500, respectively.
The actual Tree of Hope is located on the west side of the Health Care Centre. Donations can be left at the front desk of the hospital or mailed to 4815 51 Ave, Barrhead, AB, T7N 1M1. Cheques should be made out to Alberta Health Services – Barrhead Health Care Centre Tree of Hope. Donations are tax deductable and will be accepted until into the New Year.
For more information, call Wolfram at the Barrhead Health Care Centre at 780-305-3341 or Starlla Busch at 780-305-3324.
