Children's Ward Receives Countdown Donation

22 December 2011

As part of the 2011 Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal, Taranaki Base Hospital Children’s Ward has received a generous donation of $26, 000.

A cheque was presented to Chief Medical Advisor Dr John Doran, Hospital and Specialist Services Manager Rosemary Clements, and Hospital Operations Manager Steve Berendsen on Friday, 16 December 2011 at the New Plymouth Countdown Central Store.

Taranaki DHB is extremely thankful to the team at Countdown for their hard work in advocating for children of Taranaki. The money will go towards the purchase and installation of a Telepaeds Unit in the Children’s Ward (Ward Two).  

This will allow our staff to liaise directly with tertiary specialists at Starship Hospital via the Telepaeds link and can then reduce the need for patient transfers to Starship.

Hospital Operations Manager, Steve Berendsen says, "With this capability, we can allow the specialist at Starship Hospital to view a sick child on the paediatric ward or in the Paediatric Assessment Unit and provide expert advice to our local clinicians."

"The Telepaeds facility will also allow us to remotely access education sessions at other hospitals to assist our local clinicians with their ongoing professional development,”   he said.

Telepaeds is currently being established in more remote geographical areas in the South Island (Eg. Greymouth Hospital) to allow their medical staff to liaise with tertiary specialists at Christchurch Hospital. 

The Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal started on 1 August 2011 and finished on 31 October 2011 raising $830,000 for sick kids around New Zealand. All funds raised go towards 10 dedicated children’s hospitals and wards.

Click here for more information on the appeal.

Left to Right: Hospital Operations Manager Steve Berendsen, Chief Medical Advisor John Doran, Hospital and Specialist Services Manager Rosemary Clements, Countdown Central Store Manager Bernard O'Sullivan and General Manager of Operations for Progressive, Brett Ashley.

Last updated: Monday, January 23, 2012