Christmas Appeal fundraising target - $50,000

Christmas will be one of the busiest times of the year for the Launceston General Hospital and its dedicated staff. Every minute matters.

One of the most important diagnostic tools of the hospital’s cardiology department is a cardiac ultrasound. Also known as an echocardiogram, this heart ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart’s inner workings, from valves to murmurs and more. It equips your doctors with critical information.

This piece of equipment is at the core of any cardiology department. However, the Launceston General Hospital currently does not have a portable echocardiogram machine. With your help, we can change this.

This festive season, the Clifford Craig Foundation has set a fundraising target of $50,000 to support the purchase of a Premium Cardiac Ultrasound for the LGH Cardiology Department.

This portable system will take cardiology services at our regional hospital to new heights. Most importantly, it will help provide better health outcomes for our community.

A message from Associate Professor Brian Herman, LGH Director of Cardiology

“Echocardiograms are the heart and soul of a cardiology department. They are a vital diagnostic tool and are essential in the clinical management of a long list of cardiac issues.

While the Launceston General Hospital currently has larger ‘fixed’ echo machines, the cardiology department has long desired a portable machine that can be taken to the bedside of patients.

A Portable Echocardiogram Machine is something that will be used every day. It will have a significant impact on our patients. However, it is difficult for us to access this piece of equipment through regular government funding streams.

Within the Launceston General Hospital, we get at least 20 referrals a day for echo tests. It’s constant and it’s a demand that’s impossible for us to meet, with the equipment we currently have.

There are patients who cannot and should not be moved from their hospital bed to the cardiology department for assessment. Moving patients also requires the attention of multiple staff and can exacerbate the discomfort of patients.

There are also infectious disease considerations when moving patients – something that has been further heightened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the addition of a Portable Echocardiogram Machine at the LGH, we will be able to bring this vital test to the patient’s bedside. In a regional hospital setting this is a huge advantage

The LGH Cardiology Department are very grateful to the Clifford Craig Foundation for its efforts in raising $50,000 to support the purchase of this piece of equipment. The addition of a Portable Echocardiogram Machine will take cardiology services in North and North-West Tasmania to a whole new level.

For us, this type of gift is tremendous. It will make our hospital better and it will save lives.”