There are many ways that you can help with current projects and planned projects at Sydney Adventist Hospital. Some of our current projects are listed below, and for information on completed projects, see How Your Donations Have Helped.
For more information on how you can get involved, see Help Us to Help Others or contact the Foundation on (02) 9487 9405.
I’m a San Baby
Commemorate the birth of your baby, grandchild, niece or nephew by purchasing “I’m a San Baby” Teddy Bear to be placed on the San Baby wall frieze, your gold or silver bear will have your baby’s name and date of birth proudly displayed. All fundraising will benefit the Maternity Care Unit and maintain the quality of care our patients have come to expect. For all enquiries please ring the Foundation on 02 9487 9405.
Purchase 'Friends of the San' Soft Toy key rings.
For $5 you can purchase:
- Sandy - the San Bear supporting the special care nursery
- Mini-Max - the level 6 patient companion dog
- Edwina - supporting the Emergency Medical Unit (EMU)
- Oxy the Ox - supporting the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Cat - the cute cat supporting the CT Scan (Radiology)
Thanks to the support of Creata International.
Christmas & Tax Appeals
Our 2010 Christmas Appeal raised funds for the purchase of 3M Stethoscopes for our nurses.
During May and November our biannual appeals are mailed giving our supporters the opportunity to give to either ‘Where Most Needed’ or that special appeal for medical equipment or hospital departments that urgently need special services. The Foundation’s 2011 tax appeal is seeking support for Breast Navigator Nurses, who support and guide our breast cancer patients through their journey.
Wishlist
Labour Ward new beds $22,000 each
Level 4 Interactive TV’s (29) $1,000 each
Recovery monitors (15)
Hospital in the Home CADD pumps (2) $4,000
Level 7 bladder scanner $14,000
Level 6/7 syringe pumps for palliative care $2,500
Level 6 Recliner chairs (2) $1,500
Level 8 Telemetry boxes cardiac ward $2,700
HDU – Recovery monitor $10,000
Liko scale $2,316
OXY-VIVA 3 resusitator with demand value $4,000
Hand Head & Neck MRI Coil $9,000
Beigler BW 585 bollad warmer $12,800
Fluorescent microscope $15.043
Radworks Teleradiology system $33,405
Cardioscan 11 Holter system $49,330
The Hospital has an extensive list of equipment needs and your generous donation can assist these special projects.
Planned Endoscopy Theatres
Two planned new dedicated Endoscopy Procedure Rooms will double the capacity to investigate patients with symptoms such as indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain, altered bowel habit and rectal bleeding. The new facilities will allow earlier diagnosis of oesophageal, colon, lung, and bowel cancer, and other potentially serious conditions such as coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and peptic ulcers.
With two existing procedure rooms at maximum capacity treating around 8,000 patients a year, two additional rooms will give patients quicker access to services, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. Already arguably NSW’s busiest private facility, the San will refurbish internally to meet the predicted increase in demand in endoscopy services over the next ten years as the population ages, the incidence of cancers increase, and more preventative screening is done for early diagnosis of disease.
According to 22 year specialist gastroenterologist Sydney University Associate Professor Brian Jones, the development of the two additional rooms is critical. “Over the last ten years our specialist endoscopy unit has doubled the numbers of procedures. The extra rooms we are planning will mean we will have more equipment and staff, and relieve pressure on waiting times. Our prime concern is the wellbeing of out patients - so early diagnosis of disease is a prime objective. We hope to achieve this by seeing patients with symptoms quickly. Our ageing population, a heavier burden of disease and a better-educated public has increased demand. In addition we now screen to find early signs of disease before symptoms develop.”
The National Bowel Screening program introduced in 2006 by the Federal Government encourages colonoscopy to identify bowel cancer or pre-cancerous polyps. “The National Screening program is a great start in trying to reduce the burden of bowel cancer” says Professor Jones. “Research shows screening cuts deaths from the disease by up to one third as early detection enables us to treat patients quickly. With bowel cancer claiming over 4000 lives last year – only second to lung cancer – our challenge here at the San is to make sure we’ve got the facilities we need to cope with early diagnosis and treatment of this and other diseases. Our forward planning and these two new Procedure Rooms give us the best chance”.
Endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure where a doctor looks through a thin lighted tube (the endoscope) inserted into the body to see internal structures and signs of disease. Common types include Gastroscopy - viewing of the stomach to check for ulcers, bleeding or tumours, or Colonoscopy – viewing of the colon to check for tumours or small growths. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is performed by experienced gastroenterologists, upper gastrointestinal and general surgeons and colorectal surgeons. Endoscopy nursing staff are specialised and highly trained.
Digital Mammography
“I was 44 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my 10 and 12 year old daughters faced losing me…a diagnosis 6 months later would have been too late… I was lucky it was caught early. New technology that helps diagnose more cancers in younger women and which will mean more mothers like me survive to hug their daughters …that’s priceless.”
SAH Patient, Kim Mottram
“My children and grandchildren are eternally grateful that my cancer was detected… but I’m even more thrilled to hear that new technology is being developed which means easier and earlier diagnosis and that more mothers and grandmothers will be given a fighting chance – that’s the best news anyone could ask for….”
SAH Patient, Chris Dunn
Dealing with illness every day at the San medical practitioners are always excited when new technological breakthroughs mean earlier diagnosis of disease will help us to save more lives.
Digital mammography is a prime example as new Digital Mammography machines complement existing X–ray mammography and will diagnose breast cancer disease in younger women, in women with dense breast tissue and in premenopausal women. With breast cancer striking one in 8 Australian women, and the knowledge that younger women with breast cancer traditionally have had lower survival rates because their cancers have been hard to detect, the Sydney Adventist Hospital Foundation is fundraising for the Hospital to purchase a $500,000 Digital Mammography machine.
This will help us help more women – someone’s mother, wife or daughter.
Medical researchers have identified Digital Mammography as one of the areas of greatest medical innovation in the last 30 years. Full Field Digital Mammography produces a digital image that can be enhanced and transmitted easily for faster and easier diagnosis. It allows more cost effective use of resources, can halve procedure and waiting time, and the stress for patients. In a 2005 study of 50,000 women it was proven to significantly increase diagnostic accuracy in younger women, women with dense breast tissue and premenopausal women.
