General News
20 March, 2024
Maternity clinic gifted ultrasound
Expectant mothers in the Wimmera now have access to a quick and easy assessment of their developing infant without needing a trip to hospital.
Expectant mothers in the Wimmera now have access to a quick and easy assessment of their developing infant without needing a trip to hospital.
Thanks to the Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation, babies can now be assessed at Grampians Health Maternity Outpatients Clinic using a brand-new ultrasound.
Foundation director Sue Frankham said the group bought the $76,600 machine for the clinic in McLachlan Street, Horsham, after learning it was operating without one.
“Expectant mums were previously having to make an appointment at the hospital just for the ultrasound and then another at the clinic, but now it can all be done at the one location,” Ms Frankham said.
Grampians Health obstetrics and gynaecology registrar at Horsham Dr Nancy Hamura said she was very thankful for the foundation’s donation.
“There are times when our patients come in for an assessment and we are unable to determine the position of the baby,” Dr Hamura said.
“Previously we would have sent the patient to the hospital for a scan but now we're able to do it instantly without her leaving the consultation room.
“It’s also more reassuring for the mum to be able to identify the foetal heart rate here at the clinic rather than have a trip to the hospital.
"We can capture those moments after 20 weeks.
“When I first came to work at the clinic we had a case where we couldn’t identify the foetal heart rate because the placenta was anterior and we had to send the mother to the hospital, which would have been an added stress.
“Now we can do all those things here and she can go home again.”
Grampians Health chief operating officer Ben Kelly said the foundation's donation had only strengthened the service and thanked it for its generous support.
“The opening of the maternity outpatients clinic at Horsham was very important step for us in increasing services to the Wimmera," Mr Kelly said.
“We are very fortunate to have that level of commitment from the Horsham community.”