Hospital helps to keep flood victims safe

John Flynn Private Hospital supported the flood-hit Gold Coast community by providing important first aid supplies.

Staff put together first aid packs after the hospital's volunteer workers noticed a shortage of essential medical equipment at flood sites following the recent torrential rain on Australia's east coast.

The 200 packs, worth$5,000,will be distributedthrough the Mullumbimby donation centre to flood victims in Lismore and Murwillumbah.

"A number of our team, including our ICU doctors, have been volunteering at flood sites andreported essential first aid supplies were getting dangerously low," John Flynn Private Hospital CEO Adam Stevenson said.

"Cleaning up damaged property, stagnant water and debris can all lead to injuries and potentially dangerous infections. It's important anyone physically hurtas a result ofthe weather event attend to their injuries as soon as possible.

"This isn't possible without access to proper first aid."

Mr Stevenson said the hospital's Director of Clinical Services, Jo Mitchell, drew on her background with the defence force to help create first aid packs similar to those used for basic field operations.

"We set up a room in the executive area of the hospital with all the supplies and staff came through in their breaks filling the 200 packs," he added.

The packsinclude essentials such as betadine,wound dressings, tape, saline, bandages, scissors, gloves, hand gel, band aids, paracetamol and ibuprofen.

"There is so much devastation it is hard to know what to do or how to help, but I think this a great way we can support the community with simple but really important supplies," Mr Stevenson said.

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John Flynn Private Hospital is part ofRamsay Health Care, which is offering financial support to employees who had to evacuate their homes during the flood emergency in south-east Queensland and New South Wales.

The group'sFlood Hardship Assistance Grant will help to cover costs such as emergency accommodation, food and essential items, while workers who were isolated by the floodwaters have been given special emergency leave.

"As the clean-up gets underway following the extreme rainfall and flooding, we are aware that unfortunately some Ramsay employees have been severely impacted and have had to temporarily vacate their homes,"Ramsay Health Care Australia CEO CarmelMonaghan said.

"Providing hardship assistance grants to our affected people is one way we can help them to get back on their feet."

Ramsay Health Care is also contributing to a joint $200,000 donation to the 'Australia Unites: Red Cross Flood Appeal' fundraising campaign, along withSt John of God Health Care and private health insurer HBF.

Read more: Ramsay cleans up with 'meaningful' loan

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