A heart-warming donation has taken the chill off winter for some of Goulburn's most vulnerable hospital patients.
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The Goulburn Palliative Care and Oncology Support Group donated a blanket warmer to the oncology clinic at the Bourke Street Health Service. The cabinet gently heats blankets and linen for cancer patients.
"This is a really beneficial treatment for patients who are on certain chemotherapies," nurse unit manager Marissa Blackwell said.
"When some chemotherapies come in contact with cold, they can actually cause the patient to have severe pain and bronchospasms. If you are able to heat them quickly, you can reduce those symptoms in an effective way without having to put them into an emergency department, where they could come in contact with other illnesses while the are immunocompromised."
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The oncology unit received the blanket warmer at the end of July - "right in the middle of winter," Ms Blackwell said - and it has been used very much in the last couple of months.
"A lot of patients have opted to have [warmed blankets] on the cold mornings, which has provided extra comfort for them," Ms Blackwell said.
"Other patients required it for those bronchospasms and for the pain associated with some of the other treatments. They found them very beneficial."
The support group raises funds for locals undergoing oncology treatment or receiving palliative care services so they can have their final days at home, president Faye Long said.
"People are very generous donating to palliative care," Mrs Long said. "You don't really have to beg."
Previous donations include televisions for patients and in the waiting lounge, and chairs in the clinic room.
"I can't thank them enough for all their work and all their gifts," Ms Blackwell said. "We are able to provide better care for our patients by giving them comforts and looking after the whole person, not just the clinical disease."
The support group was set up in 1990; one original committee member, Sue Hannan, is still with the group.
"Goulburn and district are very fortunate to have such a wonderful oncology unit," Mrs Long said.
"It means people don't have to travel away."
The support group normally holds fund-raising functions and raffles throughout the year. This year's events have been cancelled because of COVID.
"We're still here," Mrs Long said.
"When things get back to normal, we will endeavour to put on a function to support our loyal donators."
Until then, donations can be made to:
The Secretary of the Goulburn Palliative Care and Oncology Support Group,
PO Box 6203, Goulburn North, NSW 2580
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