Volunteers honoured

By Melissa Meehan
KIND, giving, and selfless. These are three words to describe Dandenong Hospital’s valued volunteers.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews visited the hospital on Friday to inspect new equipment valued at $500,000 but his visit was not limited to the new equipment.
He also announced the winners of the Minister for Health Volunteer Awards, a group of volunteers from Dandenong Hospital.
“We understand that all hospital staff are critically important to provide care to patients … but those who are not paid are equally important,” Mr Andrews said.
Naming the volunteers, Mr Andrews said they had made a very important addition to the emergency department of the hospital.
“They all show compassion, dedication and honour,” he said. “Between the five or six members they have 29 years of service to the hospital.”
Margaret Beere, David Blanch, Trischa Blanch, and Annette Range were there for the presentation.
Two members of the group Margaret Saunders and Debra Scafocchia were unable to attend.
During Friday’s visit, Mr Andrews said Dandenong Hospital was given $1.83 million to replace operating room electrosurgical units and a diagnostic and therapeutic vascular angiography system.
“Dandenong Hospital was also allocated $498,000 in one-off medical equipment funding for anaesthetic units with physiological monitors, which are a system for the administration and maintenance of anaesthesia,” he said.